In 2025, severe weather events caused significantly fewer damages to automobiles in Berlin and Brandenburg. Correspondingly, insurance companies in Berlin paid out approximately 15 million euros, and those in Brandenburg allocated around nine million euros to their customers, as reported by the German Insurance Association (GDV). This figure represents a notable decrease compared to the previous year, when insured damages from storms, hail, and lightning amounted to 18 million and 25 million euros, respectively.
A clear downward trend is also evident across Germany. Nationwide, the decrease was almost halved, dropping from 1.2 billion to 650 million euros. However, these national figures encompass damages from flooding as well. The statistics only account for insured damages, specifically those affecting vehicles with partial or comprehensive insurance coverage. As this type of insurance is not mandatory, not all vehicles are insured, therefore, the total damages incurred are likely significantly higher. Nevertheless, a substantial reduction compared to the previous year is anticipated.
In Berlin, approximately 4,000 instances of weather-related car damage were reported to insurance companies in 2025, alongside roughly 2,500 in Brandenburg. These numbers also reflect a substantial decrease, given that 6,000 and 8,000 vehicles were damaged in 2024. The reduced number of incidents wasn’t the sole contributor to the overall decrease; the average cost of damages also fell.
Jörg Asmussen, the Chief Executive Director of the German Insurance Association (GDV), stated that around 190,000 instances of damage to motor vehicles caused by natural hazards were reported nationwide. However, the decline should not be overstated. “A single severe storm in a region can quickly alter the damage balance,” Asmussen said.