Is earthquake insurance worth it with a large percentage deductible?

Often yes. The deductible is subtracted from the claim, not a barrier to it: on a $600,000 dwelling with a 10% deductible and $250,000 of damage, the homeowner pays $60,000 and insurance pays $190,000. Without coverage the entire loss is out of pocket.

Can I get an earthquake deductible lower than the CEA offers?

Frequently. CEA deductibles typically run 5–25% of dwelling coverage, while several private California earthquake carriers offer deductibles as low as 2.5–5%, along with higher limits and broader personal property coverage.

Can I buy earthquake insurance right after an earthquake?

Usually not immediately. Insurers commonly impose a temporary moratorium on new earthquake policies after a significant quake, often around 15–30 days depending on the carrier. Coverage needs to be in place before an event.

California earthquake insurance

Your home policy doesn't cover earthquakes. Earthquake insurance does.

Q: How much does earthquake insurance cost in California?

Most California homeowners pay between $800 and $3,000+ per year. Price depends on distance from active faults, soil type, home age and construction, dwelling coverage amount, and the deductible selected. Comparing CEA and private carriers side by side usually finds a lower price for equivalent coverage.

Q: Do renters and condo owners need earthquake insurance?

Yes. Renters' earthquake coverage protects belongings and loss of use inexpensively. Condo owners face a bigger exposure: HOA master policies often carry no earthquake coverage, leaving unit owners open to large loss assessments — condo earthquake policies with loss assessment coverage address this.

Every homeowners and commercial property policy in California excludes earthquake damage. A separate earthquake policy pays to rebuild. We quote it for you, the California Earthquake Authority and private carriers alike, and show you what each one costs before you decide.

Get My Earthquake Quote Call 858-295-7242

Quotes usually within 24 hours of a complete submission. No obligation.

CA License #0L7545020+ years in businessCEA + private carriers on one quoteA-rated or better, admitted carriersQuotes in 24 hours

New to earthquake insurance?

Three things to know, then the comparison.

It is a separate policy

Fire is covered by your homeowners policy. Shaking is not. Earthquake insurance is its own policy that pays to repair or rebuild the structure, replace contents, and cover living costs while you are out.

The deductible is a percentage

You do not write a check. The deductible comes off the top of the claim. On a $600,000 home with a 10% deductible and $250,000 of damage, you absorb $60,000 and the policy pays $190,000. Try the numbers.

You do not have to shop it yourself

Most people only ever see one quote: the California Earthquake Authority policy their home insurer offers. We quote that same CEA policy for you, and the private carriers that compete with it on deductible, limits and what they cover, on one submission, side by side.

Two lines, one comparison

Homes and buildings carry the same exclusion. Both need a separate policy.

Your homeowners policy and your commercial property policy both exclude earthquake. We place the coverage that fills that gap, and we shop it.

A wood-frame house knocked off its foundation by an earthquake, resting on a crushed van

Residential earthquake insurance

Single-family homes, condos, and rental property. More than seven carriers that specialize in residential earthquake, with deductibles and limits the CEA does not offer.

Condo policies with loss-assessment coverage for the HOA master-policy gap
Retrofit and brace-and-bolt discounts where eligible
Pools, masonry veneer, and other items the CEA excludes, from carriers that will cover them

Residential coverage

Brick commercial building in Napa with its upper corner collapsed onto the sidewalk after the 2014 earthquake

Commercial earthquake insurance

Retail, industrial, office, hospitality, multifamily and HOAs. Building, business personal property, and earthquake business interruption, placed with markets that understand PML and lender covenants.

Lender-required coverage written to the loan's terms
Soft-story and pre-1980 buildings, with retrofit credits
High-value and difference-in-conditions placements

Commercial coverage

How it works

Four steps, usually inside 24 hours.

Tell us about the property
Address, year built, construction, and the dwelling or building value. Five minutes on the form.
We shop CEA and private
One submission goes to the CEA and to every private carrier that will write the risk.
Compare side by side
Deductible, limits, contents, loss of use and premium, lined up so the trade-offs are plain.
Bind
Pick the option that fits. We handle the application, the lender, and the renewal.

CEA vs. private carriers

We quote the CEA. We also quote the carriers it competes with.

Your home insurer can offer you one thing: the California Earthquake Authority policy. We can offer you that same CEA policy and the private carriers next to it, on one page, with the deductible, limits and premium lined up. You pick. That is the whole point of an independent broker.

Read the full comparison

FeatureCEAPrivate carriers

Deductible range5% to 25%As low as 2.5% lower

Dwelling limitsTied to your homeowners limitHigher limits available

ContentsCapped optionsBroader, higher options

Loss of useCapped optionsVaries by carrier

Pools, masonry veneerExcludedAvailable from some carriers

Retrofit discountYes, for qualifying homesVaries by carrier

Illustrative. Coverage, deductibles and pricing depend on carrier underwriting and the policy terms. Verify each row against current CEA and carrier filings before publishing.

The deductible, explained

A percentage deductible is subtracted from the claim. It is not a wall.

Most people hear "15% deductible" and assume the policy never pays. Move the sliders. The deductible comes off the top of the loss, and the policy pays the rest up to your limit. The lower the percentage, the less you carry, which is why we quote private carriers alongside the CEA.

Example only. Actual claim payments follow the policy's terms, limits and sublimits.

Dwelling coverage $600,000 Deductible 10% Earthquake damage $250,000

You pay$60,000

Insurance pays$190,000

Your deductible ($60,000)Covered by the policy

By the numbers

California's exposure, in three figures.

>99%

Probability of a magnitude 6.7 or greater earthquake somewhere in California within 30 years.

Source to cite: USGS UCERF3 (2015). Verify before publishing.

$20B+

Insured losses from the 1994 Northridge earthquake, the costliest U.S. quake on record.

Source to cite: Insurance Information Institute or CDI. The live site says $25B; confirm which figure and whether it is insured or total.

~13%

Share of California homeowners who carry earthquake insurance.

Source to cite: California Department of Insurance or CEA annual data. The live site renders this as "7 Percentage", which is broken.

Questions, answered

Earthquake insurance questions we get every week.

Six here. The full FAQ covers what is and is not covered, waiting periods, and how claims are paid.

How much does earthquake insurance cost in California?

For most California homeowners, earthquake insurance runs between $800 and $3,000+ per year. The biggest price drivers are your distance from active faults, soil type, the age and construction of your home, your dwelling coverage amount, and most of all the deductible you choose. Because we quote both the California Earthquake Authority (CEA) and multiple private carriers, we can usually find a meaningfully lower price for the same coverage than any single-company quote.

Is earthquake insurance worth it if I have a big deductible?

Often, yes, because the deductible is a percentage, not a wall. If your home is insured for $600,000 with a 10% deductible and an earthquake causes $250,000 in damage, you pay $60,000 and insurance covers the remaining $190,000. Without a policy, all $250,000 is yours. Earthquake insurance is catastrophic-loss protection: it exists so a bad earthquake doesn't take your home equity with it.

Can I get a deductible lower than the CEA offers?

Frequently. CEA deductibles typically run 5–25% of dwelling coverage. Several private earthquake carriers we represent offer deductibles as low as 2.5–5%, higher dwelling limits, and broader personal property coverage. That comparison, CEA vs. private, side by side, is exactly what we do.

Does commercial property insurance cover earthquakes?

No. Standard commercial property policies exclude earthquake damage, just as homeowners policies do. Commercial earthquake coverage is a separate policy or endorsement, and for many California commercial buildings, lenders require it as a condition of the loan. We quote commercial earthquake for buildings, business personal property, and earthquake-related business interruption.

Is there a waiting period or can coverage be denied after an earthquake?

Insurers routinely impose a temporary moratorium on new earthquake policies immediately after a significant quake (often around 15–30 days, varying by carrier). Translation: you cannot buy this coverage while the ground is still moving. The time to secure a policy is before the event. Quotes are free and take minutes.

Do renters and condo owners need earthquake insurance?

Yes, and it's usually inexpensive. Renters' earthquake coverage protects belongings and loss of use. For condo owners it's more urgent: your HOA's master policy often carries no earthquake coverage at all, and unit owners can be hit with enormous loss assessments to rebuild the structure. Condo earthquake policies with loss assessment coverage are one of the most under-purchased, highest-value policies we write.

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Get the comparison before the next one hits.

Carriers stop writing new policies for weeks after a significant earthquake. A quote takes minutes and costs nothing.