A family whose rental car was broken into in Italy sued their insurer for ILS 32,988 for stolen computers, jewellery, a camera and other valuables. The court held that a locked car in a public car park with CCTV is not a "secure place" under the policy, dismissed the claim for the valuables, and awarded one claimant only ILS 845.
What happened
A family of five was travelling in Italy in April 2025. On the last day, driving a rental car to the airport in Rome, they made a short stop at a shopping centre. According to them, the stop lasted about 20 minutes, the car was parked in an organised car park with cameras, and their belongings were hidden in the boot under the fixed cover. During that time the car was broken into and suitcases, clothes, computers, cameras, jewellery, a passport and other items were stolen, worth ILS 67,447 by the family's account.
The family had travel insurance for trips abroad. The insurer paid them ILS 15,167, but deducted ILS 31,612 for valuables it said were not covered in these circumstances, as well as about ILS 1,300 from one family member's claim. Two objections the family filed in June 2025 were rejected, and they brought a small claim for ILS 32,988.
Which policy applied?
The family attached the general terms of an ordinary policy to their claim, while the insurer submitted the policy issued to holders of a particular type of credit card. The policy schedule that the family itself filed stated that it was the credit card policy, so the court held that this was the policy that applied. It added that, in any case, there was no real difference between the two policies on the relevant clauses.
The parties' arguments
The family argued that the policy covers valuables up to USD 2,000 per person, and that it was enough that the items were left in a locked car, out of sight. In their view, a locked car in a car park with cameras and security patrols is an "other secure place", and requiring travellers to carry their belongings on them is unreasonable.
The insurer argued that the policy expressly excludes mobile phones and their accessories, glasses, medical devices and perfume, and that valuables such as computers, jewellery and cameras are covered only if they were carried on the insured person or in a hand bag kept close to them, or placed in a safe or another secure place.
The decision
The court sided with the insurer on the valuables. Section 5.7 of the policy generally allows luggage to be left in a locked car, out of sight, but the exclusions clause sets a stricter rule for certain valuables. For those, a locked car is not enough: they must be carried, put in a safe, or kept in another secure place.
- Items that are expressly excluded, such as a phone and its accessories, glasses and perfume, are not covered at all.
- A "secure place" must protect against theft in a way comparable to a safe or to carrying the item. Cameras may deter thieves, but they do not prevent theft, so a public car park with CCTV is not a secure place.
- The claim about security patrols did not appear in the statement of claim, and there was no explanation of whether the guards actually covered the car park.
- Most of the items were light, and the five family members could have shared the computers and tablets between them, especially for such a short stop.
For one family member, the court did find a gap. According to his list, the covered items were worth ILS 7,148, and after 35% depreciation and the excess he was owed ILS 3,764.20. The insurer had recognised only ILS 2,919, so it must pay him another ILS 845. The request for compensation for distress was rejected, because no factual or legal basis was laid for it.
The outcome
The claim for the valuables was dismissed. The insurer will pay one claimant ILS 845 within 30 days of receiving the judgment, failing which interest and linkage will be added. Given the large gap between the amount claimed and the amount awarded, each side bears its own costs. An application for leave to appeal may be filed with the Tel Aviv District Court within 30 days.
Key takeaways
- Before you travel, read the exclusions clause in your policy: valuables often have stricter safekeeping rules than the rest of your luggage.
- Do not leave computers, jewellery, cameras or electronics in the car, even for a short stop and even in a locked boot. Take them with you.
- A car park with CCTV is not a "secure place". If you cannot carry your belongings, put them in a safe.
- Check which policy actually covers you (for example, a credit card's travel insurance) and attach the correct terms to your claim.
- After a partial payment, check the insurer's calculation item by item: even a small shortfall can be claimed.
This article summarizes a published Israeli court decision in plain language and is not legal advice. Every case depends on its facts. The parties' names have been omitted. This is a first-instance decision and may be appealed.
