What is earthquake insurance and how does it work?
Earthquake insurance is coverage you add to your homeowner or renter insurance or buy separately.
- It covers you if an earthquake destroys your home.
- You can add it to your homeowner or renter insurance.
- You can also buy it as separate coverage.
- Its deductibles are usually 10%-25% of the maximum amount your insurance will pay for your building.
- It only pays for damages that cost more than the deductible.
- There may be separate deductibles for the building, what's inside it and unattached buildings like garages, sheds, driveways, or retaining walls.
- After an earthquake, you usually need to wait a while before you can buy it.
What it covers
- Repairs to your home
- Damage to your personal property
- Removing debris
- Extra living costs while you wait for repairs or rebuilding
What it may cover
- Higher costs to meet current building codes
- Costs to stabilize the land under your home
- Other structures not attached to your house
What it doesn't cover
- Fire damage
- Land
- Vehicles
- Damage that happened before an earthquake
- Water damage from outside your home
- Damage due to landslides, settling ground, mudflows, earth rising, earth sinking and contracting
It might not cover floods, tidal waves or tsunamis, even when an earthquake causes them.
Ask your agent or broker if you're covered for the types of damage above. Also, read your insurance documents.
What to expect from insurers
Some earthquake insurers may need to inspect your property before covering you. They may even have different coverage requirements, such as:
- Bolting your home to its foundation
- Bracing your home's interior walls
- Using strapping guards to hold down fixtures, such as hot water heaters