Baden-Württemberg: Storm damage over 133,000 cars!

Baden-Württemberg: Storm damage over 133,000 cars!

storm caused devastating damage in Germany in 2023. Baden-Württemberg was particularly affected, where around 133,500 cars suffered damage. The federal state thus accounts for over a third of the 340,000 damaged vehicles nationwide. According to Süddeutscher Zeitung are sufficient to damage Dents to massive destruction through falling trees or floods. For the insurers, the costs in Baden-Württemberg totaled an impressive 530 million euros, while the nationwide damage amount is 1.3 billion euros.

The frequency of storm damage is also alarming: In Baden-Württemberg, 18.2 damage per 1,000 comprehensive vehicles were reported, which is almost three times as often as in the nationwide average. The average amount of damage was around 4,000 euros per case, a value that was only exceeded in Bavaria.

The effects of climate change

The damage caused by natural events show a worrying trend. In 2024, the total damage in the southwest doubled and added up to over 1.6 billion euros, compared to 662 million euros in 2023. This is also due to the extreme weather events, which are accumulated as a result of climate change. The Tagesschau reported that the total insurance damage by hail, storms and heavy rain reached a total of 5.7 billion euros in 2023. This is an increase of 1.7 billion euros compared to the previous year.

climatic challenges and optimization of insurance

The need to act against the consequences of climate change is becoming increasingly clear. Information from the GDV show that by 2050 the amount of damage could at least be doubled due to climate consequences. The aim is to prepare the infrastructure and the construction system for increasing water sensitivity. Currently, 54 percent of all houses in Germany are insured against natural hazards, and the insurance density has increased two percentage points compared to the previous year.

The reports on storm damage also reveal that the actual amount of damage could be even higher because not all damage is insured. It remains to be hoped that both insurers and politics will set the right course in the coming years to offer citizens: inside effective protection. The reserves are necessary to cope with the devastating financial consequences of the natural disasters.