Earthquake Insurance

Earthquakes will happen, but we do not know exactly when. We do know that they can cause a lot of damage to your home and your belongings. You may even have to move out of your home while it is repaired or rebuilt.

Homeowners, renters, and condominium insurance policies do not cover damage from natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, and landslides.

Earthquake insurance covers damages caused by an earthquake, a sudden and violent shaking of the ground resulting from movement of the earth’s crust. More specifically, earthquake insurance covers damages to your house, personal belongings inside your home, and Additional Living Expenses or loss of use, which are the costs to live somewhere else while a policyholder’s area is evacuated or their home is repaired.

No. There are limits on what earthquake insurance pays. The purpose of earthquake insurance is to help put a roof back over your head. It does not replace everything you lost.

You can buy earthquake insurance to cover damage to your belongings and to pay for living somewhere else while your rented home is being repaired.

You can buy earthquake insurance to cover damage to your belongings. It can also pay for living somewhere else while your condo is being repaired. You may also need insurance to help pay for your condo association assessment to repair your building. Talk to your condo association.

You can buy earthquake insurance to cover damage to your home and belongings. It can also pay for living somewhere else while your mobile home is being repaired.

First Check to see if your homeowner’s insurance covers earthquake damage. Most homeowners insurance policies do not extend to earthquakes, but if it does, there is no need to purchase additional insurance.

Second Check to see if you live in a high-risk area for earthquakes.  California has earthquakes of significant magnitude more frequently than other states - eight of the 10 most costly U.S. earthquakes in history have occurred in California. The intensity of tremors can be felt miles away from the epicenter, so it might still be worthwhile to insure against one if you're outside of the high-risk areas.

If you live in a high-risk area where earthquakes are more frequent and more powerful, you should get earthquake insurance. Remember, there is no way to predict how powerful earthquakes will be, or when they will strike.

Rates for earthquake coverage in California average $1.75per $1,000 of coverage. For example, if you had to purchase earthquake insurance for a $250,000 home, it would cost you roughly $437 per month. In some high-risk regions, that might even exceed the price of a homeowners insurance policy. In lower-risk regions coverage can cost as low as 50 cents per $1,000 of coverage. So for the same $250,000 home, a policyholder in a low-risk region might pay as little as $125.