Jerusalem, 8 October, 2026 (TPS-IL) — An Israeli court has ruled that ants entering a vehicle’s electrical system and high-voltage battery constitute an accidental event covered by comprehensive insurance, rejecting an insurer’s claim that the damage was an excluded mechanical or electrical malfunction.
The ruling this week involved a Hyundai Ioniq hybrid whose battery warning light appeared in June 2022. A garage found ants and ant eggs had entered the battery control computer, causing a short circuit and irreversible damage to both the computer and high-voltage battery.
The insurer, Agricultural Insurance, initially paid NIS 6,747 (2,200) but refused to cover the battery damage. Rechovot Magistrate’s Court Judge Keren Wexler ruled that the ants were an external accidental cause, not normal wear or an internal defect. The insurer was ordered to pay approximately NIS 30,000 ($9,786), including damages, appraisal fees, legal expenses, and compensation for the claimant’s time.
