Earthquake Insurance
Understand the Coverage Gap
What Can Earthquake Insurance Help Cover?
Direct earthquake damage is generally excluded from standard homeowners, renters, and condominium insurance policies. A separate earthquake policy or available endorsement may provide protection for certain residential property losses caused by seismic activity.
Dwelling Coverage
May help repair or rebuild the insured home when qualifying covered earthquake damage affects the structure, subject to the dwelling limit, deductible, exclusions, and policy terms.
Personal Property
May help replace certain qualifying furniture, electronics, clothing, appliances, and household belongings damaged by a covered earthquake.
Additional Living Expenses
May help with eligible temporary housing and certain increased living expenses when a covered earthquake makes the insured residence temporarily uninhabitable.
Homeowners
Coverage may include the dwelling, qualifying personal property, and eligible additional living expenses depending on the policy selected.
Condo Owners
Coverage may address belongings, certain interior property, loss assessments, and living expenses depending on the individual policy and association exposure.
Renters
Renters may be able to obtain protection for qualifying personal belongings and eligible additional living expenses after a covered earthquake.
Residential Property Owners
Landlords and other residential property owners may have earthquake exposures that require a specialized insurance review.
Know the Coverage Boundaries
Not Every Earthquake-Related Loss Is Covered the Same Way
Flood & Tsunami
Flooding and tsunami-related water damage generally require separate flood insurance and should not be assumed to be covered by earthquake insurance.
Vehicles
Residential earthquake insurance generally does not insure automobiles. Coverage may depend on the applicable auto policy.
Land & Exterior Property
Land, landscaping, pools, fences, patios, and certain detached structures may be excluded or subject to limited coverage.
Fire Following an Earthquake
Certain resulting fire losses may be addressed by homeowners or renters insurance rather than the earthquake policy, depending on policy terms.
Evaluate Your Financial Exposure
What Should You Review Before Buying Earthquake Insurance?
Earthquake insurance should be evaluated around the property, rebuilding cost, deductible, personal-property needs, temporary housing exposure, construction, location, and the amount of financial risk you are prepared to retain.
Property Location
Earthquake exposure, proximity to known seismic areas, insurance availability, and pricing can vary substantially by location.
Construction & Foundation
Age, building materials, foundation type, number of stories, design, and structural characteristics may affect eligibility and pricing.
Rebuilding Cost
Review the amount it could cost to repair or reconstruct the insured dwelling rather than relying only on market value or purchase price.
Personal Property
Consider the value of furniture, electronics, appliances, clothing, and other belongings you may want included within available limits.
Temporary Housing
Think about where you would stay and what additional expenses you might incur if your home became temporarily uninhabitable.
Financial Reserves
Consider how much deductible, repair, rebuilding, personal-property, and temporary housing expense your household could reasonably absorb.
A Different Deductible Structure
Understanding Percentage Deductibles
Earthquake deductibles are often calculated as a percentage of an applicable coverage limit. The deductible structure may differ by coverage section and insurance company.
Example Dwelling Limit
$500,000
The amount used in this simplified example as the applicable dwelling coverage limit.
Example Deductible
10%
The deductible percentage shown only to demonstrate how a percentage calculation can work.
Example Calculation
$50,000
Ten percent of a $500,000 coverage limit equals $50,000 in this simplified illustration.
This is only an example. Actual earthquake deductible percentages, calculations, coverage sections, and claim applications vary by insurance company, policy, state, and selected coverage.
Strengthening the Property
Earthquake Retrofitting May Help Reduce Risk
The appropriate improvements depend on the home’s age, foundation, construction, and design. Verified improvements may also affect insurance eligibility or available options under certain programs.
Foundation Bolting
May help improve the connection between certain homes and their foundations when professionally evaluated and installed.
Cripple-Wall Bracing
Certain older homes may benefit from structural bracing designed to reduce movement during seismic activity.
Water-Heater Securing
Properly securing water heaters and other equipment may help reduce movement and related property damage.
Document Improvements
Keep permits, receipts, contractor records, photographs, and other documentation for qualifying seismic upgrades.
Earthquake Insurance Learning Center
Understand Earthquake Coverage Before You Need It
Explore practical guides about earthquake deductibles, property protection, and common coverage decisions for residential insurance customers.
Already Retrofitted Your Home?
Tell Us About Qualifying Seismic Improvements
Foundation bolting, bracing, and other verified seismic improvements may affect eligibility, deductible options, or available discounts under certain insurance programs. Keep documentation of completed work whenever possible.
Earthquake Insurance Questions
Earthquake Insurance FAQs
Clear answers about earthquake coverage, percentage deductibles, homeowners insurance, personal property, temporary housing, retrofits, condos, renters, and residential property protection.