Co-authored the book “Future Millionaires’ Guidebook”
13 years writing personal finance content
A former chief copy editor at Bankrate and past managing editor at Macmillan, Kim specializes in writing easy-to-understand, actionable personal finance content.
5+ years in insurance and personal finance content
Ashley is a seasoned personal finance editor who’s produced a variety of digital content, including insurance, credit cards, mortgages, and consumer lending products.
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About half of all Americans are exposed to the risks of earthquakes, according to U.S. Geological Survey data. Earthquakes can be powerful enough to collapse entire buildings, disrupt utility services, and even trigger flash floods, fires, tsunamis, and more.[1]
Yet standard homeowners policies won’t cover damage from natural disasters like earthquakes. If you live in an earthquake-prone area, you should consider earthquake insurance to protect your home and belongings. And, because earthquake insurance can be expensive, it’s important to compare quotes to find the best deal you can.
What is earthquake insurance?
Earthquake insurance pays to repair or replace your property after it’s been damaged or destroyed in an earthquake. You may buy earthquake insurance coverage from private insurance companies either as a separate plan or as an endorsement to your homeowners insurance policy.
If an earthquake damages your home or belongings, you can file a claim with this coverage. You may need to pay a deductible, which is the out-of-pocket cost you’ll pay before coverage kicks in.
Depending on what’s included, your policy may also pay for temporary housing if the earthquake damage to your home forces you to relocate. If the earthquake sparks a fire or causes water damage to your home, then earthquake insurance won’t cover it. Instead, your regular home insurance policy should cover the fire damage, and flood insurance would cover water damage.
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Pros and cons of earthquake insurance
Pros
The biggest benefits of earthquake insurance include:
Financial coverage: Earthquake insurance covers your home and personal property if they’re damaged in an earthquake, and it pays for your temporary housing while your home is being repaired or rebuilt.
Potentially low cost: If you live in a low-risk area, you may pay less for earthquake insurance. You may also raise your deductible to reduce your premium payments.
Cons
Two main drawbacks of earthquake insurance are:
High rates in some areas: Homeowners who live in high-risk areas may pay high premiums for earthquake coverage.
May not cover some damage: Most homes experience earthquake damage that doesn’t exceed the cost of the deductible. Insured homeowners may not receive money from their policy to address the damage in this case.2
The best earthquake insurance companies
Earthquake insurance premiums depend on where you live. For example, California has a very high earthquake risk, and people living there pay higher premiums. California even has state-led earthquake insurance, the California Earthquake Authority (CEA), to help protect California residents in high-risk homes.
The type of material used to build your home can also affect your premiums. Wood frames tend to withstand earthquakes better than brick frames. Larger homes made with fancier building materials are much more costly to replace than a regular-sized home.
All these factors will affect your rates and which company is the best for you.
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
8.9/10
JD Power
J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.
833
$300,000 Dwelling
A standard HO-3 home insurance policy typically includes dwelling, personal property, and liability coverage. The average rate displayed here reflects a policy with the following coverage limits: $300,000 dwelling; $25,000 personal property; $300,000 personal liability; $30,000 loss of use; and a $1,000 deductible for medical payments to others.
$134/mo
$500,000 Dwelling
A standard HO-3 home insurance policy typically includes dwelling, personal property, and liability coverage. The average rate displayed here reflects a policy with the following coverage limits: $500,000 dwelling; $25,000 personal property; $300,000 personal liability; $30,000 loss of use; and a $1,000 deductible for medical payments to others.
$192/mo
Allstate is a well-known company that offers various insurance policies in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. It provides earthquake insurance in select regions throughout the U.S., including California.
Pros
Can add earthquake insurance to any existing policy
A+ (Superior) rating from AM Best indicates strong financial health and credit profile
Cons
Coverage varies depending on where you live and the policy and coverage options you choose
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
9.1/10
JD Power
J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.
840
$300,000 Dwelling
A standard HO-3 home insurance policy typically includes dwelling, personal property, and liability coverage. The average rate displayed here reflects a policy with the following coverage limits: $300,000 dwelling; $25,000 personal property; $300,000 personal liability; $30,000 loss of use; and a $1,000 deductible for medical payments to others.
$113/mo
$500,000 Dwelling
A standard HO-3 home insurance policy typically includes dwelling, personal property, and liability coverage. The average rate displayed here reflects a policy with the following coverage limits: $500,000 dwelling; $25,000 personal property; $300,000 personal liability; $30,000 loss of use; and a $1,000 deductible for medical payments to others.
$156/mo
American Family Insurance is a national insurance company that allows customers to save money on their earthquake insurance premiums by taking advantage of a long list of discounts.
Pros
A (Excellent) rating from AM Best for 18 years in a row
Offers coverage for condo owners and renters
Cons
Must speak with an agent to get a quote for earthquake insurance
Not accredited with the Better Business Bureau (BBB)
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
8.3/10
JD Power
J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.
862
$300,000 Dwelling
A standard HO-3 home insurance policy typically includes dwelling, personal property, and liability coverage. The average rate displayed here reflects a policy with the following coverage limits: $300,000 dwelling; $25,000 personal property; $300,000 personal liability; $30,000 loss of use; and a $1,000 deductible for medical payments to others.
$152/mo
$500,000 Dwelling
A standard HO-3 home insurance policy typically includes dwelling, personal property, and liability coverage. The average rate displayed here reflects a policy with the following coverage limits: $500,000 dwelling; $25,000 personal property; $300,000 personal liability; $30,000 loss of use; and a $1,000 deductible for medical payments to others.
$234/mo
Amica Mutual Insurance allows customers to add earthquake coverage as an endorsement to a standard homeowners insurance policy.
Pros
Receives high marks for customer service
Offers a catastrophic coverage upgrade, which includes flood insurance and protection for property damage caused by seismic activity
Cons
Not available in every state
Low customer reviews, according to the BBB website
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
8.7/10
JD Power
J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.
815
$300,000 Dwelling
A standard HO-3 home insurance policy typically includes dwelling, personal property, and liability coverage. The average rate displayed here reflects a policy with the following coverage limits: $300,000 dwelling; $25,000 personal property; $300,000 personal liability; $30,000 loss of use; and a $1,000 deductible for medical payments to others.
$159/mo
$500,000 Dwelling
A standard HO-3 home insurance policy typically includes dwelling, personal property, and liability coverage. The average rate displayed here reflects a policy with the following coverage limits: $500,000 dwelling; $25,000 personal property; $300,000 personal liability; $30,000 loss of use; and a $1,000 deductible for medical payments to others.
$250/mo
A typical earthquake insurance policy from Nationwide covers damage to your home, other structures on your property, personal belongings, and loss of use.
Pros
Bases your initial claim on the depreciated value of your covered items
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
4/10
JD Power
J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.
819
A.M. Best
A.M. Best analyzes an insurer’s financials, operating performance, business profile, and other factors to generate an opinion-based rating of a company’s financial and credit strength. Ratings range from A++ (exceptional) to D (poor).
A
With Liberty Mutual, you can buy and manage a policy and submit a claim all online. The company even offers earthquake insurance for renters.
Pros
Available in all states and Washington, D.C.
Covers damage from aftershocks within 360 hours after the initial earthquake in the same claim — a much longer time frame than some other companies offer
Cons
Poor customer reviews on BBB website
Large insurer, lacks a boutique feel
Methodology
Insurify uses more than 15 different criteria to calculate a company’s IQ Score and focuses on five core categories: third-party financial strength ratings, customer satisfaction, cost, customer support, and carrier availability. Using a 1–5 scale, Insurify calculates the average score based on predetermined weighting and adds the weighted scores to create a unique IQ Score for each insurer. Our editorial team applies this insight to inform our unbiased reviews and recommendations.
What does earthquake insurance cover?
An earthquake insurance policy covers damage that results from seismic activity, which is usually defined as “shaking or trembling of the earth, caused by volcanic activity, tectonic processes, or any other cause,” according to the Nevada Division of Insurance. Depending on the policy, you may also be covered for events directly related to major earthquakes, such as landslides.
Earthquake policies usually consist of three parts:[2]
Dwelling coverage
Pays to repair or rebuild your home and attached structures
Personal property coverage
Pays to replace your damaged belongings, such as furniture and electronics
Loss-of-use coverage
Pays for temporary lodging expenses, such as a hotel, while your home is being repaired
Each type of coverage comes with a policy limit, which is the highest amount your insurer will pay for a covered claim.
Some insurance companies offer riders you can add to earthquake insurance. If your policy doesn’t feature the coverage you need, ask your insurer about adding it to your plan. Additional coverage can include upgrade replacements, repairs to your land, and emergency repairs for aftershock protection.
Helpful Tip
Natural disasters like earthquakes are unpredictable, so the best time to buy insurance is before you need it. Most insurers won’t sell new earthquake policies for 30 to 60 days after a seismic event hits the area.[3] Check with your insurer for more information about earthquake insurance options.
What does earthquake insurance exclude?
Earthquake insurance may exclude certain items or materials. And if the earthquake causes another type of natural disaster, another type of insurance will typically cover it. For example, homeowners insurance usually covers damage from a fire, while flood insurance covers water damage.
Here’s a list of what’s usually excluded in earthquake insurance policies:
What does earthquake insurance typically exclude?
▲▼
Does another type of insurance cover it?
▲▼
Vehicles
Yes, comprehensive car insurance
Sinkholes
A separate rider to earthquake insurance
Fire
Yes, homeowners insurance
Flood
Yes, flood insurance
Expensive items
Depends
Masonry
Depends
Other structures, such as your fence and pool
Depends
Pre-existing damage to your home
No
How much does earthquake insurance cost?
Earthquake insurance premiums may cost anywhere from $0.50 to $15 per $1,000 of coverage.[1] On a $200,000 home, for example, the price of an earthquake insurance policy may range anywhere from $100 to $3,000.
When setting rates, insurance companies usually take the following factors into account:
Your home’s location: Homeowners in earthquake-prone areas generally pay more for earthquake insurance.
The age of your home: Premiums are typically higher on older homes because they’re more prone to damage during an earthquake and may not comply with current building standards.
The construction of your home: Homes built with wood frames are cheaper to insure than brick buildings because they better withstand quake stresses. Large homes constructed with expensive materials cost more to insure because they’re costlier to rebuild.
The cost to rebuild your home: When setting your policy limits, you can choose between replacement cost and actual cash value. Replacement cost is more expensive because the policy pays to rebuild or repair your home using materials of similar kind and quality.
The deductible: Choosing a larger deductible can help you save money on premiums, though you’ll be responsible for covering more of the loss in the event of an earthquake.
What to know about earthquake insurance deductibles
Insurers usually calculate deductibles on earthquake insurance as a percentage of your coverage limit rather than a dollar amount. The percentage usually ranges from 2% to 20%.[3] If your home is insured for $200,000, and your deductible is 5% of your home’s replacement value, the insurer would deduct $10,000 from your claim payment.
In states with a higher-than-average risk of earthquakes, such as Washington, Nevada, and Utah, insurance companies often set minimum deductibles at around 10%.[1]
For coverage and deductible purposes, policies also specify the time frame of a single event. For instance, aftershocks that happen within 72 hours of the earthquake are usually considered one occurrence. So, if you need to file a claim against your earthquake coverage, you pay your deductible only once for damage that occurs within this time frame.
Is earthquake insurance worth it?
Like homeowners insurance, no state requires you to have earthquake insurance coverage.
Whether you should buy coverage depends largely on the following factors:[4]
Your proximity to fault lines
Frequency of earthquakes in your region
How long it’s been since an earthquake hit your region
Your home’s structure, layout, building materials, and quality of construction
Local conditions, such as type of soil, slope of the land, annual rainfall, and nearby bodies of water
Value of your property and its contents
Cost of an insurance policy for your home
Across the U.S., residents in 42 states have a reasonable chance of experiencing a damaging earthquake.
The nine states at highest risk of earthquakes are:
Alaska
California
Hawaii
Idaho
Montana
Oklahoma
Oregon
Texas
Washington
The risk of earthquakes is lowest in:
Florida
Iowa
Kansas
Louisiana
Michigan
Minnesota
North Dakota
Wisconsin
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How to buy earthquake insurance
Unlike flood insurance, earthquake insurance isn’t available through the federal government. But you can buy earthquake coverage on the private market.
Every insurer has a different way of setting rates, so you might find different prices at two different companies — even for the same coverage options. That’s why it’s so important to compare earthquake insurance policies to find the best deal available to you.
Here are the basic steps you can take to buy earthquake insurance:
Estimate the coverage you’ll need. Find out how much it would cost to rebuild your entire home and replace the belongings inside of it. You can set up a home inventory to keep track of these details.
Compare insurance companies. Start by looking for insurers that offer earthquake policies in your area. Check each company’s products, premium costs, deductibles, discounts, policy limits, and special offerings to get a wide range of options.
Gather details about the home you’re insuring. The insurance company will need to know your address, the age of the home, the age of the roof, and any protective devices installed. It may also ask about your own claim history.
Get quotes. You can either call individual insurance companies, visit their websites, or use a comparison tool to gather information and compare quotes.
Buy a policy. Once you’ve chosen an insurance company that offers the earthquake insurance that you need at an affordable price, you’ll fill out the application and choose your payment method.
Earthquake insurance FAQs
If you still have questions about earthquake insurance, the answers below may help.
Does FEMA cover earthquake damage to homes?
The Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, doesn’t offer earthquake insurance to cover damage to homes.
But its Individuals and Households Program provides support for people who have been affected by a federally declared disaster. The program isn’t a replacement for insurance, but it may provide emergency financial assistance for things like temporary housing.
Which states require earthquake insurance?
None. In the U.S., no state requires homeowners or renters to buy earthquake insurance.
Why wouldn’t someone buy earthquake insurance?
Some people may not be aware that standard homeowners insurance doesn ’t cover damage from earthquakes. Additionally, deductibles can be relatively high, ranging from 2% to 20% of the cost of replacing a home. So, even if you’re insured, you wouldn’t be able to file a claim if the cost of the damage doesn’t exceed your high deductible.
Can you get earthquake insurance for an apartment, condo, or mobile home?
Some insurance companies offer coverage for people who rent or own a condo, apartment, or mobile home. Standard renters policies don’t come with earthquake coverage, but you can add an earthquake endorsement to your insurance policy.
Kim Porter is a writer and editor who's been creating personal finance content since 2010. Before transitioning to full-time freelance writing in 2018, Kim was the chief copy editor at Bankrate, a managing editor at Macmillan, and co-author of the personal finance book "Future Millionaires' Guidebook." Her work has appeared in AARP's print magazine and on sites such as U.S. News & World Report, Fortune, NextAdvisor, Credit Karma, and more. Kim loves to bake and exercise in her free time, and she plans to run a half marathon on each continent.
5+ years in insurance and personal finance content
Ashley is a seasoned personal finance editor who’s produced a variety of digital content, including insurance, credit cards, mortgages, and consumer lending products.
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