What is earthquake insurance?

Although there are many states prone to earthquakes, an earthquake can occur anywhere in the country at any time. Despite this probability, a standard homeowner’s insurance policy typically does not offer any coverage for damage caused by earth movement. To financially protect your home from an earthquake loss, you can consider purchasing a special policy endorsement or earthquake rider to make sure your investment is properly covered. Experiencing such a loss without the additional coverage could leave homeowners financially devastated without the means to repair or rebuild their homes. To avoid high out-of-pocket costs, Bankrate’s team of experts breaks down earthquake insurance and how it can help you prepare for the unexpected.

What is earthquake insurance?

Earthquake insurance is a policy or endorsement that covers direct damage from specific seismic events. The coverage will specify a time period, usually 72 hours, for what constitutes a single event. Earthquake insurance will cover damage to your home and possibly — depending on your policy’s specifics — other structures on your property, such as a detached garage or pool. You’ll also be covered for personal property up to the limit you chose when purchasing the policy.

It is important to know that your standard homeowners insurance policy doesn’t cover earthquakes. The best it may do is cover the damage caused by the fires that frequently occur after earthquakes. Still, for damage caused by the seismic activity itself, you’ll need an additional rider, or endorsement, on your policy. If you live in an especially high-risk area, like California, you may need a separate earthquake insurance policy.

Emergency repairs needed to prevent further damage, necessary building code upgrades and required land stabilization are typically included in earthquake home insurance coverage. Earthquake coverage also includes loss of use coverage for additional housing expenses while your home is being repaired.

As mentioned previously, fire damage caused by earthquakes will generally be covered by your standard homeowners policy. Earthquake policies won’t cover damage to your land, except for where it supports your house, or your vehicle, which should be covered if you have comprehensive car insurance.

Do I need earthquake insurance?

In most cases, lenders don’t require earthquake insurance as they do homeowner’s insurance. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have it, though. According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), Americans in 84 percent of states are at risk of experiencing an earthquake. That means, for most of us, a risk assessment is essential.

Earthquakes are not uncommon in the U.S. and up to 16 earthquakes with a magnitude of 7.0 or higher occur on average each year. The aftermath can lead to expensive building repair and replacement costs. The 2020 Magna Quake in Salt Lake City, Utah, occurring on March 18, 2020, resulted in a $629 million loss to private and public property.

A study conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey found that the following five states are most at risk for an earthquake:

• Alaska
• Arkansas
• California
• Hawaii
• Idaho

Although many Americans could benefit from extra earthquake protection, people in these five states especially should consider purchasing an earthquake endorsement or policy to bolster themselves against what could be a significant financial loss.

The table below shows the magnitude 5.0 and stronger earthquakes recorded worldwide from 2016 to 2021. While the total number of earthquakes varies, there was a significantly higher number of earthquakes in 2021 than in years past. These numbers may drop back to baseline, but this data could indicate increased earthquake activity in the future. Earthquake insurance may be more important now than ever.

Recorded earthquakes worldwide (magnitude 5.0 or greater), 2016-2021

Source: U.S. Geological Survey, “Earthquake Hazards Lists, Maps, and Statistics”

To understand your risk, combine historical data with predictive maps and expert assessments. When it comes to earthquakes, past performance is not necessarily a good predictor of the future. Some states like California are known to have a high active risk for earthquakes. Even states such as Texas and Oklahoma see more activity from fracking, so risk levels are on the rise in those areas.

Understand the rates and deductibles

The rate you pay for earthquake insurance is determined by your insurance company using specific data about your house and location, including the likelihood of earthquake damage. The NAIC cites rating factors that include the following:

• Your home’s proximity to a seismic zone
• Your home’s age
• Your foundation and construction type (masonry will be more expensive to insure)
• The deductible you choose
• The cost to rebuild your home
• Any additional coverage (such as secondary structures)

Just as with your standard policy, your coverage should insure the total rebuilding cost of your home, also known as replacement cost coverage. This is different from your home’s sale or appraisal value. It factors in the costs of construction materials and labor if your home were to need a complete rebuild.

Earthquake risk level will have the biggest influence on your premium. For instance, a Missouri resident of New Madrid County, situated right on a major fault, would generally pay significantly more for earthquake insurance than a resident of Jackson County, Missouri — where Kansas City is located, far from the New Madrid fault line.

Your deductible also plays a significant role in your rate, more so than with a traditional homeowners policy. Your standard policy has a predetermined deductible that may range from a low of $250 up to several thousand dollars. But most earthquake insurance deductibles are indicated as a percentage of the rebuild cost, usually between 10% and 15% of the total rebuild value of the home, so on a policy with $300,000 in dwelling coverage, you might face a deductible as high as $45,000.

If your home doesn’t incur enough damage for a full rebuild, you could be responsible for the entire dwelling repair cost, even with insurance. You’ll also need to consider your personal property and coverage for any other structures.

How much does earthquake insurance cost?

Earthquake insurance cost varies greatly, depending on your location and other factors. As you might imagine, the closer you are to a significant fault or fracking site, the higher your premium. This means that homeowners in lower-risk areas will typically pay significantly less than homeowners in high-risk areas.

If you live in California, which has frequent earthquakes, the California Earthquake Authority has resources to help you determine how much earthquake insurance costs, including an earthquake premium calculator.

Is earthquake insurance worth it?

Not everyone needs earthquake insurance. In some areas of the U.S., the risk of an earthquake or volcanic event is almost nonexistent. Paying even a low annual premium, when compared to the limitations of your coverage and the significant deductible, may not be worth it.

But many Americans live in high- or moderate-risk zones, and those zones are increasing as fracking becomes more common in areas such as Oklahoma. All it takes is one major event in these areas to cause major or even catastrophic damage to your home. Consider what it would cost you to replace your home in the event of an earthquake. Could you afford it? Further, could you absorb the costs of temporary housing or potential damage to your personal property? The price of your premiums may be high if you live in a high-risk area, but they likely won’t be higher than your replacement costs.

To know if earthquake insurance is worth it for you, weigh those costs and seek a thorough risk assessment.

Frequently asked questions

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    Does homeowners insurance cover earthquake damage?

    In general, homeowners insurance does not cover earthquake damage, although it may cover the costs of fire damage that occurs following an earthquake. To have adequate coverage in the case of seismic activity, you will need a separate rider on your homeowners policy. You might need a separate policy if you live in a high-risk area.
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    Why are earthquake deductibles so high?

    Earthquake deductibles are high because the damage from them tends to be catastrophic, making them a higher risk for insurers. Deductibles are higher to account for the higher costs of damage. However, compared to the expansive damage that an earthquake can cause, the cost of a high deductible and a yearly premium could save you tens of thousands of out-of-pocket dollars in the long run.
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    Do you need earthquake insurance if you don’t live on a fault line?

    You may want to consider earthquake insurance even if you do not live on a fault line. Earthquakes are also a possibility in areas with mines and locations where hydraulic fracturing (fracking) is done. This practice has increased earthquakes in areas where there were formerly none.
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    Does my earthquake insurance cover flooding?

    No. If you live in a flood zone, or are concerned about flooding after a quake, you’ll want to explore flood insurance. You can buy flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program or several private carriers.