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Cheap Earthquake Insurance
CEA vs. private earthquake insurance

CEA or a private carrier? We quote both, so you never have to guess.

Most California homeowners are only ever shown one earthquake quote: the California Earthquake Authority policy their home insurer offers. We write that same CEA policy. We also write the private carriers that compete with it on deductible, limits and what they cover. On one submission you get both, lined up, and you pick.

Get Both Quotes Call 858-295-7242

One form. The CEA and every private carrier that will write the home. Usually inside 24 hours.

The CEA, quoted by us7+ private carriers, admitted, A-rated or betterDeductibles from 2.5% to 25%One submission, one comparison
The two places the coverage comes from

Same peril, two very different policies.

The California Earthquake Authority

A publicly managed, privately funded pool created by the state after Northridge. It writes most of California's residential earthquake policies through the home insurers that participate in it. The policy is standardised: a set menu of deductibles, contents and loss-of-use options, with the dwelling limit tied to your homeowners policy.

  • Predictable, widely available, backed by a large claims-paying capacity
  • Deductibles typically 5% to 25% of the dwelling limit
  • Excludes pools; limited options for masonry and detached structures

We quote it. Your CEA quote comes from us, on the same sheet as the private options.

Private earthquake carriers

Admitted, A-rated or better insurers that write standalone earthquake policies in California. They compete with the CEA on the things it is rigid about, and they underwrite each home individually, so the right one depends on the house.

  • Deductibles as low as 2.5% to 5%
  • Dwelling limits set independently of your homeowners policy, often higher
  • Broader contents and loss of use; pools and masonry veneer from some carriers

We represent more than seven of them. One submission reaches every carrier that will write the home.

Side by side

Where the two policies differ.

This is the comparison we run for every residential quote. Neither column is the answer for every home.

FeatureCEAPrivate carriers
Deductible rangeTypically 5% to 25% of dwellingAs low as 2.5% to 5% lower
Dwelling limitTied to your homeowners policy limitSet independently; higher limits available
ContentsMenu of capped optionsBroader and higher options from several carriers
Loss of useMenu of capped optionsVaries by carrier
PoolsExcludedCovered by some carriers
Masonry veneerLimitedAdd-on from some carriers
Detached structuresLimited optionsVaries by carrier
Retrofit creditYes, for qualifying braced-and-bolted homesVaries by carrier
UnderwritingStandardised eligibilityIndividual; some homes qualify, some do not
Who quotes it for youWe doWe do
Illustrative. Coverage, deductibles and pricing depend on carrier underwriting and the policy terms. Verify each row against current CEA and carrier filings before publishing.
Which one usually wins

It depends on the house. These are the patterns we see.

You want a low deductible

The CEA floor is usually 5%. Private carriers go to 2.5% on qualifying homes. On a $600,000 dwelling that is the difference between absorbing $30,000 and $15,000 before the policy pays.

Usually: private.

Your home is worth more than your homeowners limit

The CEA dwelling limit follows your homeowners policy. If that limit is stale or the home has appreciated, a private carrier can set the earthquake limit to the real rebuild cost.

Usually: private.

You have a pool or masonry

The CEA excludes pools and is limited on masonry veneer. Some private carriers cover both. If those are a meaningful share of the value, the exclusion decides it.

Usually: private.

You own a condo

Both write condo policies. The question is loss-assessment coverage for the HOA's share of the rebuild, and how high it goes. We compare the limits, not just the premium.

Depends: on the assessment limit you need.

The home is braced and bolted

The CEA gives a meaningful credit for a documented retrofit, and so do some private carriers. A retrofitted pre-1980 home is often where the CEA premium becomes very competitive.

Depends: quote both.

The premium is the whole question

For a standard, newer, modest home with no pool, the CEA premium is often hard to beat at its deductible. A private quote at the same deductible tells you in one line whether that holds for yours.

Often: CEA, but we check.

The deductible is where the money is

Two policies on the same home, one bad day.

The deductible is a percentage of the dwelling limit, and it comes off the top of the claim. Everything else being equal, the deductible decides how much of a loss is yours. On a $600,000 home with $250,000 of earthquake damage:

DeductibleYou absorbPolicy pays
15% (a common CEA choice)$90,000$160,000
10%$60,000$190,000
5% (private, or CEA where offered)$30,000$220,000
2.5% (private, qualifying homes)$15,000$235,000

A lower deductible costs more each year. Whether it is worth it depends on how much of a loss you could absorb without touching the equity. Try your own numbers, then let us put a real premium next to each row.

Why we never send you to the CEA on your own. Ask your home insurer and you get one quote, the CEA policy, at one deductible menu. Ask us and you get that same CEA policy plus every private carrier that will write the home. The CEA quote is identical either way. The second column is the part you would otherwise never see.

After a quake, the comparison closes. Carriers impose a moratorium on new earthquake policies after a significant event, often 15 to 30 days. The CEA and the private market both stop. Run the comparison before, not after.

How the comparison works

One form. Both columns. Your call.

  1. Tell us about the home

    Address, year built, construction, foundation type, any retrofit, dwelling value, pool or masonry.

  2. We quote the CEA

    The same CEA policy your home insurer would offer, at each deductible on its menu.

  3. We quote the private market

    Every carrier we represent that will write the home, at matching and lower deductibles.

  4. You compare and choose

    Deductible, limits, contents, loss of use, exclusions and premium on one sheet. We bind whichever you pick.

CEA vs. private questions

The five we hear most.

The full FAQ covers cost, claims and exclusions.

Do I have to buy earthquake insurance from the CEA?

No. The California Earthquake Authority is the largest writer of residential earthquake insurance in the state, but several private, admitted, A-rated carriers also write it. We quote both, so you see the CEA policy and the private options side by side and choose.

Is private earthquake insurance cheaper than the CEA?

Sometimes, and sometimes not. Private carriers often win on lower deductibles, higher limits and broader coverage, and for some homes on premium too. The CEA can be the lower price for others. The only way to know is to quote both for the same home, which is what we do.

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

Frequently. CEA deductibles typically run 5% to 25% of dwelling coverage. Several private carriers we represent offer deductibles as low as 2.5% to 5%, along with higher dwelling limits and broader personal property coverage.

Does the CEA cover pools and masonry?

The CEA excludes pools. Some private carriers we represent cover them, and some offer masonry veneer as an add-on. These exclusions are one of the reasons to quote private carriers alongside the CEA.

Can I switch from the CEA to a private carrier at renewal?

Yes, subject to the private carrier's underwriting and any post-earthquake moratorium in effect. We compare the renewal offer against the private market so the switch happens only if it improves the coverage or the price.

See both columns for your home.

The CEA quote and the private quotes on one sheet, usually inside 24 hours. No obligation, and no need to go anywhere else.

Get Both QuotesCall 858-295-7242
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