Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

A. Though California has nearly 16,000 known earthquake faults, you are not required by state law to carry earthquake insurance. Your basic homeowners and renters insurance policies do not cover earthquake damage. Without separate earthquake insurance coverage, you will be responsible for all of the cost to repair your home and replace your belongings after a damaging earthquake occurs.

Earthquake insurance coverage guards against financially devastating shaking events.

CEA earthquake policies cover houses, mobilehomes, condo-units, and rental homes. Buy separate earthquake insurance coverage in California through your home insurance provider.

Our residential earthquake insurance policies offer coverage for:

• Repairs to your home/mobilehome/condo-units.
• Costs of living elsewhere while repairs are being made to your house/mobilehome/condo-unit/rental home after an earthquake.
• Replacement of the valuable contents in the home you own or rent.

Buy CEA earthquake insurance today to protect your life savings.

A. If you've never felt an earthquake tremor in your life, do you really need California earthquake insurance coverage?

Consider this.

• Damage from a minor quake is most often limited to broken windows and dishes.
• But a big quake may trigger catastrophic damage to your home’s structure and foundation—and may require use of your hard-earned life savings to repair damage to your home.
• Scientists say larger earthquakes are a matter of when, not if. Earthquakes are a certainty in California.

Your basic homeowners policy does not cover earthquake damage. Californians must purchase a separate, companion earthquake insurance policy. Without earthquake insurance coverage in California, you will be responsible for 100 percent of the cost to repair your home, and replace your belongings after a damaging earthquake strikes.

Given the potential cost to repair shake damage, the cost of a CEA policy may be an easy expense to justify. According to a Uniform California Earthquake Rupture Forecast study, there is more than a 99% chance of one or more magnitude 6.7 or greater earthquakes striking California.

Ask yourself: after a major earthquake, could you:

1. Afford to repair or replace your home without insurance;
2. Cover the full costs of living elsewhere—while still paying your mortgage—during the time repairs are being made; and
3. Replace the valuable contents of your home?

Compare those big-ticket expenses to an investment in earthquake insurance coverage—combined with the value of having peace of mind when the big one strikes.

A. Live in the San Francisco Bay Area, Central Coast, Central Valley, Sierra Mountains or SoCal? Then you live in areas of greater earthquake risk.

Still, all of California is earthquake country.

Most Californians live within only 30 miles of an active earthquake fault. There are nearly 16,000 known faults, and scientists continue to find new faults.

Consider this likely scenario with a large earthquake:

• Earthquakes can cause extensive damage to the foundation, siding and roof of homes. Older homes built before 1980 on a raised foundation are especially vulnerable if they are not retrofitted.
• Without residential earthquake insurance you will be responsible for all repair and/or rebuilding costs.
• Government disaster assistance, if available, only comes in the form of a small grant or capped loan, which may cover only a portion of your repair costs.
• Without Loss of Use earthquake coverage—which includes covering additional expenses of living elsewhere—you’d still be paying your mortgage plus temporary housing rent during the time repairs are underway.

CEA earthquake insurance policies protect you against financially devastating shaking events.

A. CEA offers the best affordable and flexible earthquake policies. Choose the kind of coverage that fits your budget. Residential earthquake insurance typically pays for damaged walls, foundations, and ceilings. Options can also cover household items that are destroyed or need repair due to an earthquake, such as electronics and appliances.

Our residential earthquake insurance rates are based on the latest science, not profit. Premiums are determined by many factors, including:

• Your home’s age.
• Its location near a fault.
• Foundation type (raised, slab or other).
• Construction (masonry or frame) type.
• Roof type.

Find out about CEA’s premium discounts for retrofitted older homes and mobilehomes. Grants to help pay for a house retrofit are available to people with eligible houses in select ZIP Codes from the Earthquake Brace & Bolt (EBB) program, and the CEA Brace + Bolt (CEA BB) program.

A. Have you been looking for a discounted rate for earthquake insurance?

CEA offers residential earthquake insurance premium discounts for older houses (up to 25%), and mobilehomes (21%) that have been properly retrofitted to better withstand earthquakes. A seismic retrofit involves strengthening your dwelling to make it more resistant to shaking.

Find out about CEA’s discounts for retrofitted older homes. Mobilehomes that are properly retrofitted are also eligible for premium discounts. Grants for retrofitting may also be available.

CEA’s affordable and flexible earthquake insurance policies allow you to choose the kind of coverage and deductibles that fit your budget.

A. No. CEA is a public instrumentality of the state. An instrumentality is an organization created by state law and operated for public purposes.

CEA is a not-for-profit and receives no funding from the State of California, whether for operations or claim liabilities, and is not a part of the state budget. CEA is financed solely through insurer contributions, policyholder premiums, and its own investment returns.

Learn more about CEA’s creation after the Northridge earthquake.

A. Yes. CEA has an B++ (Good) rating from A.M. Best Co., the world's leading rating agency of insurance companies.

A. The not-for-profit CEA is one of the world’s largest providers of residential earthquake insurance. Our rates are based on science, not profit, enabling us to use the best science available to determine competitive earthquake insurance rates. CEA is actuarially sound and could pay all covered claims if the 1906 San Francisco, 1989 Loma Prieta, or 1994 Northridge earthquake reoccurred today.

A. You can buy a CEA earthquake insurance policy through one of CEA's participating residential insurance companies. CEA does not offer stand-alone policies. Learn more about how to buy a CEA earthquake insurance policy.

A. To check on the latest employment openings with CEA, please visit our Working at CEA page. For answers to questions regarding employment at CEA, please contact:

• CEA's Human Resources: (916) 661-6300 or HR@calquake.com
• CalHR, State of California HR website

A. CEA participating residential insurance companies process all policy applications, renewals, payments, and claims.

A. If you purchased Loss of Use coverage, you are eligible for the additional living expenses necessary to maintain your normal standard of living, up to the coverage limit you selected.

A. There are several ways to lower what you pay for earthquake insurance.

• Choose a higher deductible to lower your premium—CEA deductibles range from 5% to 25%, in 5% increments. For new policies written on or after August 1, 2023, and renewals on or after November 1, 2023, homes with a Coverage A dwelling limit greater than $1,000,000, or dwellings built before 1980 on a raised or “other” type foundation that do not have a verified retrofit, are only eligible for a 15%, 20% or 25% deductible.
• If your home is insured under a CEA Homeowners Choice policy, you can reduce your costs by declining personal property and loss of use coverages and only insuring the dwelling.
• Make sure your coverage limits make sense for your needs. Do you rent a 1-bedroom, but have the highest possible personal property limit of $25,000? Make sure your coverage limits accurately reflect what you own.
• If you have an older retrofitted house, you may qualify for a Hazard Reduction Discount of up to 25%, with proper verification. Call your agent or CEA participating residential insurer for details.

A. CEA offers coverage and limit choices as well as more deductible options to help you find a policy that best meets your needs and budget. Use the CEA Premium Calculator to estimate the cost of your earthquake insurance policy.

A. CEA is unique because we are a not-for-profit residential insurer and are required to have actuarially sound rates. Our public mission is to help Californians prepare for and recover from damaging earthquakes through education, mitigation and insurance. CEA insures over one million households and writes two-thirds of all residential earthquake policies sold in California.

A. Yes. CEA has an B++ (Good) rating from A.M. Best Co., the world's leading rating agency of insurance companies.

A. CEA has a claim-paying capacity of about $20 billion . CEA could cover all claims if the 1906 San Francisco, 1989 Loma Prieta, or 1994 Northridge earthquake reoccurred today.

A. We will settle claims on a pro rata basis. By way of simple example, if CEA has enough claim-paying capacity to only cover 90% of all covered claims, CEA policyholders would receive payment for 90% of their covered claims. A more sustainable structure would need to be approved by the California State Legislature in order for CEA to remain in business following such an event.

Keep in mind that CEA has historically been very conservative in establishing our claim-paying capacity. The goal has been to make sure CEA will be able to pay 100% of covered claims in the aftermath of a catastrophic earthquake far more damaging, and much less likely, than any earthquake in California’s history.

CEA’s current claim-paying capacity is set at 1-in-350, which means there is only a 0.29% chance that CEA would not be able to pay 100% of all claims should an earthquake, unprecedented in damage, occur.

A. CEA is a privately financed entity and receives no money from the State of California budget. California’s budget concerns have no impact on the CEA’s ability to pay its policyholders’ claims. By law, the State of California is not responsible for the CEA's liabilities, and the CEA does not pay any state liabilities. Therefore, CEA assets cannot be used by the state for any government purposes such as repairing infrastructure items like bridges and freeways.

A. CEA would have liability only for a defined portion of the total cost of the economic damage caused by a major California earthquake, because CEA assets are available only to pay claims of homeowners and renters who have protected their homes and possessions by buying a CEA earthquake insurance policy.

Put another way, like any insuring entity, CEA is responsible for paying its insured losses, not the total cost of all the damage. CEA claim-paying capacity is carefully established according to financially conservative standards: CEA aims to maintain a claim-paying capacity sufficient to pay 100% of CEA’s annual claims 99.71% of the time—or only a 0.29% chance that CEA would not be able to pay 100% of its claims should an earthquake, unprecedented in it damage, occur. In addition, it is important to bear in mind that CEA is not responsible for losses to uninsured residential properties or their contents, commercial properties, or public infrastructure such as bridges and freeways.

A. No. CEA is not permitted to file for bankruptcy protection, and, unlike a private insurer, it cannot be taken over by the state insurance commissioner. If an earthquake causes insured damage greater than the CEA's claim-paying capacity, policyholders with earthquake damage may be paid a prorated portion of their covered losses. Or, the CEA Governing Board may approve installment payments.

CEA claim-paying capacity is carefully established according to financially conservative standards: CEA aims to maintain a claim-paying capacity sufficient to pay 100% of CEA’s annual claims 99.71% of the time—and only a 0.29% chance that CEA wouldn’t be able to pay 100% of its claims should an earthquake, unprecedented in damage, occur. In addition, it is important to bear in mind that the CEA is not responsible for losses to uninsured residential properties or their contents, commercial properties, or public infrastructure such as bridges and freeways.

A. The real question is: Are you feeling lucky?

• Scientists predict a major earthquake in the near future.
• Most Californians live within 30 miles from an active earthquake fault.
• There are nearly 16,000 known earthquake faults in California. Scientists continue to find new ones.

Earthquake insurance is not required by California law. Only by purchasing a separate earthquake insurance policy joined with your home policy is your home protected from damages caused by a strong earthquake.

CEA earthquake insurance guards against financially devastating shaking events.

A. CEA provides the best choices in California earthquake coverage. Pick the kind of policy that fits your budget and risk. Homeowners earthquake insurance helps to cover costs to repair damaged walls, foundations, and ceilings. All CEA policies can also help to cover loss of your home’s use, and repair or replace household items that are destroyed or need repair, such as electronics and appliances.

Our homeowners insurance rates are based on the latest science, not profit. Premiums are determined by many factors, including:

• Your home’s age.
• Your location near a fault.
• Foundation type (raised or slab).
• Construction type (masonry or frame).
• Roof type.

Find out about CEA’s discounts for retrofitted older homes built before 1980 on a raised foundation, and mobilehomes.

A. Have you been wondering if there is a way to get a discounted rate for CEA insurance?

You may be eligible for a CEA earthquake insurance premium discount if you own a retrofitted older house (up to 25%). Discounts are also available for mobilehomes/manufactured homes (21%) that have been properly retrofitted. A seismic retrofit involves strengthening your dwelling to make it more resistant to shaking.

Grants for retrofitting may also be available to you!

A. Take 5 easy steps to buy CEA earthquake insurance.

1. Use the CEA earthquake insurance estimator to compare coverages and prices.
2. Share the estimate with your insurance agent via email/phone.
3. Call your insurance agent to finalize the earthquake insurance policy.
4. Buy today. You don’t have to wait until your homeowners renewal date to purchase earthquake insurance.
5. Pay through the options your insurance carrier offers.

We work with 20 participating residential insurance carriers that provide home policies to the majority of Californians.

A. There are thousands of known faults in California, and scientists continue to discover new ones. Since earthquakes can happen anywhere in California, damage to your home and personal property is always possible.

Check to see earthquake risk near you and take steps to get prepared!

A. The not-for-profit CEA is one of the world’s largest providers of residential earthquake insurance. Our rates are based on science, not profit, enabling us to use the best science available to determine competitive earthquake insurance rates. CEA is actuarially sound and could pay all covered claims if the 1906 San Francisco, 1989 Loma Prieta, or 1994 Northridge earthquake reoccurred today.

A. You can buy a CEA earthquake insurance policy through one of CEA's participating residential insurance companies. CEA does not offer stand-alone policies. Learn more about how to buy a CEA earthquake insurance policy.

A. When we launched in 1996, CEA offered only a mini policy—the minimum-coverage policy authorized in 1995. While the mini-policy offered full coverage of a residential structure, it only offered $5,000 in personal property and $1,500 in additional living expenses. It also only offered a deductible of 15%.

Since that time, CEA has worked hard to offer a broader range of insurance options to give policyholders more flexibility and options. We currently offer coverage options that provide much more extensive coverage than the barebones options that make up the CEA mini-policy.

A. You do not have to pay your deductible out of pocket to receive payment on a claim. The deductible is subtracted from your covered damage, so you don’t have to pay any of the deductible up front before receiving your claim payment.

Both standard Homeowners and Homeowners Choice offer deductibles ranging from 5-25%. With the standard policy, all of your coverages are together under one deductible. With Homeowners Choice, you can choose to have separate deductibles for your dwelling and personal property. And if earthquake damage meets the dwelling deductible, the personal property deductible is waived.

A. For homeowners policyholders who are landlords that rent all or a portion of their homes to others, the CEA policy covers lost rental income resulting from earthquake damage. The policy states:

"Loss of Rent. If the part of the dwelling that you rent to others or that you actually hold for rental becomes unfit to live in as a result of either (1) damage to the dwelling or covered extensions to dwelling caused by an earthquake that commences during the policy period as part of a seismic event that commences during the policy period or (2) the process of repairing damage to the dwelling or covered extensions to dwelling caused by an earthquake that commences during the policy period as part of a seismic event that commences during the policy period, we cover the fair rental value of that part of the dwelling that is rented to others or that you actually held for rental prior to the loss, less any expenses that do not continue while the rental portion of the dwelling is unfit to live in. Fair rental value means the average rental amount immediately before the earthquake in your rental market for a residential unit similar to that covered under this policy.

We will pay for the shortest time reasonably needed to repair or replace the parts of the dwelling rented or held for rental that are unfit to live in. Your loss of rents due to cancellation of a lease or rental agreement is not covered."

Because each claim is unique, if you file a claim for lost rental income, the adjuster assigned by the participating insurance company would review the details of the loss and determine the most appropriate manner in which to settle the claim.

A. CEA policies do not require the complete collapse of a dwelling in order for an insured to receive a claim payment. At the time of the loss, an adjuster from the participating insurance company would investigate the loss and issue payment for all covered damages, less any applicable deductibles. (Of course, claims for which homes suffer only very minor damage, such as a few minor, nonstructural surface cracks in drywall surfaces, would typically not meet the policy deductible for a CEA policy.)

A. Yes, CEA has issued payments for claims from past earthquake events. Just as our participating insurers (PIs) handle the sale and servicing of all CEA policies, our PIs also handle earthquake damage claims. All investigations and settlement of claims are handled by our PIs on CEA’s behalf.

A. In California, your residential insurance policy doesn’t cover your home or your belongings against earthquakes. If you don’t have an earthquake insurance policy, you’re not covered for earthquake damage or any additional costs needed to live elsewhere while your home is being repaired or rebuilt after a quake. Contact your residential insurer today to get the earthquake insurance you need.

A. The cost of your policy depends on many factors such as the earthquake risk where you live, the age and characteristics of your home, and the coverages and deductibles you choose. CEA offers several coverage choices as well as a number of deductible options to help you find a policy that best meets your needs and budget. Use our Premium Calculator to estimate the cost of your earthquake insurance policy.

A. You do not pay your deductible out-of-pocket. The deductible is subtracted from your covered damage so you don’t have to pay any of the deductible up front to receive a claim payment. 

A. If you purchased Loss of Use coverage, you are eligible to receive payment for the additional living expenses necessary to maintain your normal standard of living, up to the coverage limit you selected. Remember that Loss of Use coverage never has a deductible!

A. There are thousands of known faults in California, and scientists continue to discover new ones. Since earthquakes can happen anywhere in California, damage to your home and personal property is always possible. Check to see earthquake risk near you and take steps to get prepared!

A. With the Homeowners Choice policy, you can purchase separate policy options instead of the standard Homeowners bundled coverage. CEA provides a comprehensive breakdown of both, so you can make the best choice for yourself and your family.

A. No. CEA policies must be purchased from the same residential insurance company that your standard residential (fire) policy is with—functioning as a companion policy, you can buy your CEA earthquake insurance policy through your residential insurance company. They will help you get a CEA quote and will also handle billing; process your renewals, invoices and payments; and handle claims and claim payments. Learn more about how to buy a CEA earthquake insurance policy.

A. Depending on the coverages you choose, CEA earthquake policies are intended to help rebuild or repair your home, replace your damaged personal belongings, and help with additional living expenses if you have to move out while repairs are made.

Our Dwelling coverage helps make your home safe and habitable, which means rebuilding or repairing items that are part of the main structure, like the roof, walls, foundation, plumbing, and electrical systems—these are all covered. Structures that aren't necessary to "put a roof back over your head" or are not part of the main dwelling, like a detached garage or a swimming pool, are not included in the CEA policy.

To learn more about our policy coverages, visit our Insurance Policies page where you can see more details on what we cover, download a sample policy, order brochures, and view our policy FAQs.

A. You do not need to retrofit your house to before buying a CEA policy. However, depending on the year your house was built, a retrofit can make it stronger and more resistant to earthquake damage, and qualify you for a CEA premium discount.

A. If your qualifying home was built before 1980 and has been seismically retrofitted, you may qualify for up to a 25% premium discount with a retrofit verification.

And, learn more about the Earthquake Brace + Bolt program, which offers grants of up to $3,000 to help pay for a seismic retrofit.

A. You do not pay your deductible out-of-pocket. The deductible is subtracted from your covered damage so you don’t have to pay any of the deductible up front to receive a claim payment.

A. If you purchased Loss of Use coverage, you are eligible to receive payment for the additional living expenses necessary to maintain your normal standard of living, up to the coverage limit you selected. Remember that Loss of Use coverage never has a deductible!

A. CEA participating residential insurance companies process all policy applications, renewals, payments and claims.

A. There are thousands of known faults in California, and scientists continue to discover new ones. Since earthquakes can happen anywhere in California, damage to your home and personal property is always possible. Check to see earthquake risk near you and take steps to get prepared!

A. Contact your residential insurance company or use the CEA premium calculator.

A. No. CEA policies must be purchased from the same residential insurance company that your standard residential (fire) policy is with—functioning as a companion policy, you can buy your CEA earthquake insurance policy through your residential insurance company. They will help you get a CEA quote and will also handle billing; process your renewals, invoices and payments; and handle claims and claim payments. Learn more about how to buy a CEA earthquake insurance policy.

A. Depending on the coverages you choose, CEA earthquake policies are intended to help rebuild or repair your home, replace your damaged personal belongings, and help with additional living expenses if you have to move out while repairs are made.

Our Dwelling coverage helps make your home safe and habitable, which means rebuilding or repairing items that are part of the main structure, like the roof, walls, foundation, plumbing, and electrical systems—these are all covered. Structures that aren't necessary to "put a roof back over your head" or are not part of the main dwelling, like a detached garage or a swimming pool, are not included in the CEA policy.

To learn more about our policy coverages, visit our Insurance Policies page where you can see more details on what we cover, download a sample policy, order brochures, and view our policy FAQs.

A. In California, your residential insurance policy doesn’t cover your home or your belongings against earthquakes. If you don’t have an earthquake insurance policy, you’re not covered for earthquake damage or any additional costs needed to live elsewhere while your home is being repaired or rebuilt after a quake. Contact your residential insurer today to get the earthquake insurance you need.

A. The cost of your policy depends on many factors such as the earthquake risk where you live, the age and characteristics of your home, and the coverages and deductibles you choose. CEA offers several coverage choices as well as a number of deductible options to help you find a policy that best meets your needs and budget. Use our Premium Calculator to estimate the cost of your earthquake insurance policy.

A. You do not pay your deductible out-of-pocket. The deductible is subtracted from your covered damage so you don’t have to pay any of the deductible up front to receive a claim payment.

A. You can buy a CEA earthquake insurance policy through one of CEA's participating residential insurance companies. CEA does not offer stand-alone policies. Learn more about how to buy a CEA earthquake insurance policy.

A. You can choose coverage deductibles of 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, or 25%. For new policies written on or after August 1, 2023 and renewals on or after November 1, 2023, homes with a Coverage A dwelling limit greater than $1,000,000, or dwellings built before 1980 on a raised or other type foundation that do not have a verified retrofit, are only eligible for a 15%, 20% or 25% deductible.

A. Building Property, an optional coverage, covers earthquake damage to built-in features of the dwelling such as appliances, fixtures, and wall-to-wall carpeting, and the policyholder can select a limit of up to $100,000 for that coverage. Optional Loss Assessment coverage, on the other hand, helps pay your share of certain assessments levied by your HOA on its members for earthquake-damage repairs or to pay a master-policy deductible, and you may select a limit of up to $100,000 for that coverage as well. Both coverages are subject to the chosen deductible of 5% - 25% of the coverage limit.

Loss of Use coverage—optional coverage that is combined with Personal Property coverage as a package—pays for additional living expenses if you must live outside of your home because of earthquake damage to your home or as directed by a civil authority following an earthquake. This coverage never has a deductible.

A. It is important for HOAs to have earthquake insurance covering the Association. If they do not, however, and the HOA decides not to rebuild after an earthquake, if you are a CEA policyholder, you can still receive a claim settlement for your covered losses.

For CEA condo policyholders who purchase optional Loss Assessment coverage and whose HOA either cannot afford to or chooses not to repair damage to common property covered under the Loss Assessment coverage, rendering the policyholder’s dwelling uninhabitable, the policy covers the reduction in value of the policyholder’s interest in the condo, up to the policy limits and subject to the deductible for Loss Assessment. (Loss Assessment coverage is subject to exclusions for certain categories of property and losses, so it is important to read and understand that coverage.)

And remember that Loss of Use, which covers additional living expenses if you must live outside of your home because of earthquake damage or as directed by a civil authority, never has a deductible. This coverage can be purchased with limits as high as $100,000.

A. You do not pay your deductible out-of-pocket. The deductible is subtracted from your covered damage so you don’t have to pay any of the deductible up front to receive a claim payment. 

A. If you purchased Loss of Use coverage, you are eligible to receive payment for the additional living expenses necessary to maintain your normal standard of living, up to the coverage limit you selected. Remember that Loss of Use coverage never has a deductible!

A. CEA participating residential insurance companies process all policy applications, renewals, payments and claims.

A. There are thousands of known faults in California, and scientists continue to discover new ones. Since earthquakes can happen anywhere in California, damage to your home and personal property is always possible. Check to see earthquake risk near you and take steps to get prepared!

A. Yes. Loss Assessment coverage can be added to your CEA condo policy and has options up to $100,000 for an individual unit owner to help cover the cost of special assessments your Homeowners Association (HOA) may assess for the cost of repairing the unit structures, or may be used towards the HOA’s master policy deductible. For all terms and conditions, please read the CEA condominium policy.

A. In California, your residential insurance policy doesn’t cover your home or your belongings against earthquakes. If you don’t have an earthquake insurance policy, you’re not covered for earthquake damage or any additional costs needed to live elsewhere while your home is being repaired or rebuilt after a quake. Contact your residential insurer today to get the earthquake insurance you need.

A. The cost of your policy depends on many factors such as the earthquake risk where you live, the age and characteristics of your home, and the coverages and deductibles you choose. CEA offers several coverage choices as well as a number of deductible options to help you find a policy that best meets your needs and budget. Use our Premium Calculator to estimate the cost of your earthquake insurance policy.

A. You do not pay your deductible out-of-pocket. The deductible is subtracted from your covered damage so you don’t have to pay any of the deductible up front to receive a claim payment. 

A. You can buy a CEA earthquake insurance policy through one of CEA's participating residential insurance companies. CEA does not offer stand-alone policies. Learn more about how to buy a CEA earthquake insurance policy.

A. You can choose coverage deductibles of 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, or 25%. For new policies written on or after August 1, 2023 and renewals on or after November 1, 2023, homes with a Coverage A dwelling limit greater than $1,000,000, or dwellings built before 1980 on a raised or other type foundation that do not have a verified retrofit, are only eligible for a 15%, 20% or 25% deductible.

A. With the Homeowners Choice policy, you can purchase separate policy options instead of the standard Homeowners bundled coverage. CEA provides a comprehensive breakdown of both, so you can make the best choice for yourself and your family.

A. You do not need to retrofit your mobilehome before buying a CEA policy. However, a retrofit can make it stronger and more resistant to earthquake damage, and qualify you for a discount.

A. You may receive a 21% discount on your CEA earthquake insurance premium if your mobilehome:

• Has been reinforced by an earthquake-resistant bracing system certified by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), or

• Has been installed on an approved foundation system in accordance with subdivisions (a) or (b) of section 18551 of the California Health and Safety Code.

Learn more about premium discounts for mobilehomes or contact HCD for more information.

A. You do not pay your deductible out-of-pocket. The deductible is subtracted from your covered damage so you don’t have to pay any of the deductible up front to receive a claim payment. 

A. If you purchased Loss of Use coverage, you are eligible to receive payment for the additional living expenses necessary to maintain your normal standard of living, up to the coverage limit you selected. Remember that Loss of Use coverage never has a deductible!

A. CEA participating residential insurance companies process all policy applications, renewals, payments and claims.

A. There are thousands of known faults in California, and scientists continue to discover new ones. Since earthquakes can happen anywhere in California, damage to your home and personal property is always possible. Check to see earthquake risk near you and take steps to get prepared!

A. Generally not. You’ll first need a separate renters policy, and then a CEA earthquake insurance policy, to cover damage to your personal belongings such as TVs and furniture, and to cover loss of use in case earthquake damage keeps you out of your home.

A. You do not pay your deductible out-of-pocket. The deductible is subtracted from your covered damage so you don’t have to pay any of the deductible up front to receive a claim payment. 

A. All CEA renters policies include Loss of Use coverage, which means you are eligible for the additional living expenses necessary to maintain your normal standard of living, up to the coverage limit you selected. Remember that Loss of Use coverage never has a deductible!

A. You can buy a CEA earthquake insurance policy through one of CEA's participating residential insurance companies. CEA does not offer stand-alone policies. Learn more about how to buy a CEA earthquake insurance policy.

A. You can choose coverage deductibles of 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, or 25%. For new policies written on or after August 1, 2023 and renewals on or after November 1, 2023, homes with a Coverage A dwelling limit greater than $1,000,000, or dwellings built before 1980 on a raised or other type foundation that do not have a verified retrofit, are only eligible for a 15%, 20% or 25% deductible.

A. Generally not. You’ll first need a separate renters policy, and then a CEA earthquake insurance policy, to cover damage to your personal belongings such as TVs and furniture, and to cover loss of use in case earthquake damage keeps you out of your home.

A. You do not pay your deductible out-of-pocket. The deductible is subtracted from your covered damage so you don’t have to pay any of the deductible up front to receive a claim payment. 

A. All CEA renters policies include Loss of Use coverage, which means you are eligible for the additional living expenses necessary to maintain your normal standard of living, up to the coverage limit you selected. Remember that Loss of Use coverage never has a deductible!

A. CEA participating residential insurance companies process all policy applications, renewals, payments and claims.

A. Earthquakes are unlike any other natural disaster. There aren’t any warning signs or advanced notice. One thing is certain: California, with nearly 16,000 known faults, is due for a devastating earthquake in the near future.

Earthquake insurance is not required in California, unlike automobile liability insurance. If you choose not to protect yourself with earthquake residential insurance, you will be responsible for 100 percent of the cost to repair your home and replace your belongings after a major earthquake.

You may receive a letter from your insurance company offering you a CEA earthquake insurance policy. Since the 1980s, California law has mandated that insurance companies selling residential insurance also offer earthquake insurance. By law, your insurer is required to send a mandatory offer letter at least every two years if you do not yet have earthquake insurance. But don't worry if you happen to miss the due date shown in your mandatory offer letter! You can purchase a CEA policy at any time, simply by contacting your residential insurer.

Protect your home before the next big earthquake strikes by contacting your residential insurer to add earthquake insurance. You also don't have to wait until your residential policy renews in order to purchase a CEA policy.

For the best choice of coverages and premiums, buy earthquake insurance in California from CEA.

A. Answer the following three questions to determine your need to buy earthquake insurance in California:;

• Can you afford the cost to rebuild or repair your home if it is damaged in a major earthquake?
• Can you replace your personal belongings if they are damaged or destroyed?
• Can you pay for temporary housing if there is structural damage that makes your home uninhabitable or a civil authority prevents entry to your neighborhood because of earthquake damage?

Because the risk for earthquake damage is great in California, CEA offers homeowners coverage for the structure of the house, building code upgrades and emergency repairs. Renters, mobilehome owners and condo-unit owners have customized coverage choices. We also provide separate coverage options for belongings and additional living expenses.

A. CEA residential earthquake insurance is easy to buy. Contact your home insurance agent to discuss purchasing separate earthquake insurance added to your current home policy. We work with  20 residential insurance companies.

You can include the coverage today, no need to wait until your home policy comes up for renewal. Contact your residential insurer now!

A. CEA California earthquake insurance policies are not one size fits all. You customize your policy to fit your needs and budget.

CEA affordable premiums—based on science, not profit—are determined by several factors including your home’s location near a fault, and the coverages and deductibles you choose.

For the best choice of CEA earthquake home insurance policies, select deductibles from 5%-25%.

A. A seismic retrofit involves strengthening your home’s foundation to make it more resistant to shaking. CEA offers earthquake home insurance premium discounts (up to 25%) for older houses that have been retrofitted to better withstand earthquakes. Mobilehomes that have already been certified with an earthquake-resistant bracing system may be eligible for a 21% discount.

Grants to help pay for a house retrofit are available under the Earthquake Brace & Bolt (EBB) program.

A. No. Participating insurers are not prohibited from telling consumers complete information about any residential earthquake coverage that is available in the market. However, some participating insurers have operated under a long-standing impression that this would be prohibited activity.

A. We believe that consumers should be well informed about their insurance options. In some cases, a consumer may find an earthquake insurance policy from a private insurer that offers more coverage or a better price. All CEA policyholders will benefit when more companies begin to take on more of California’s earthquake risk so that the risk is not overly concentrated in the CEA.

A. CEA participating residential insurance companies process all claims on our behalf. Please contact them directly if you have an earthquake damage claim.

A. Make your CEA policy payment to the residential insurance company that sold you your CEA policy—not CEA. They handle all billing for your CEA policy on our behalf.

A. There are several ways to lower what you pay for earthquake insurance.

• Choose a higher deductible to lower your premium—CEA deductibles range from 5% to 25%, in 5% increments. For new policies written on or after August 1, 2023, and renewals on or after November 1, 2023, homes with a Coverage A dwelling limit greater than $1,000,000, or dwellings built before 1980 on a raised or “other” type foundation that do not have a verified retrofit, are only eligible for a 15%, 20% or 25% deductible.
• If your home is insured under a CEA Homeowners Choice policy, you can reduce your costs by declining personal property and loss of use coverages and only insuring the dwelling.
• Make sure your coverage limits make sense for your needs. Do you rent a 1-bedroom, but have the highest possible personal property limit of $25,000? Make sure your coverage limits accurately reflect what you own.
• If you have an older retrofitted house, you may qualify for a Hazard Reduction Discount of up to 25%, with proper verification. Call your agent or CEA participating residential insurer for details.

A. The residential insurance company that sold you your CEA policy decides what payment methods and schedules (including pay by credit card or monthly installments) are available to pay CEA policy premiums. Please contact them to see what options they offer.

A. Contact the residential insurance companies you are considering, and find out what options they offer CEA policyholders. Because CEA does not offer stand-alone earthquake policies, your CEA policy has to be with the same insurance company as your residential insurance policy. Those companies sell and service CEA policies on our behalf, and they determine what billing and payment options to make available to you.

A. CEA policy billing, payments, changes and renewals are not handled by CEA. The servicing of your policy—including any accommodations due to the ​COVID pandemic—is handled by the residential property insurance company that issued your CEA policy. You will need to contact that insurance company for details on how they are managing grace periods, late payments, or other policy issues that may arise related to COVID-19.

Read the California Insurance Commissioner's latest bulletin on grace periods, and contact your insurance company directly for more information.

A. Contact your residential insurance company or agent to renew your CEA earthquake insurance policy or get a copy of your renewal (also known as a declarations page). CEA's policies are sold and serviced through participating residential insurance providers. CEA policy payments, changes, renewals and cancellations are managed by the company or agent you use for your homeowners, renters, or condo owners insurance.

A. Because CEA policies are serviced by our participating insurance companies, they are responsible for online access to your policy information and bill. Contact your participating residential insurance company or agent (the company or agent you use for your homeowners, renters, or condo owners insurance), and ask them how to access your CEA policy and bill online.

A. CEA participating insurance companies handle policy applications, renewals, changes to your policy, bill payments and claims. If you wish to change your policy coverages or deductibles, our premium calculator can help you determine the cost before you contact the participating insurance company or agent that you use for your homeowners, mobilehome, condo or renters insurance.

A. When the legislature established CEA 25 years ago, it established a requirement that CEA use “best available science” for rate setting purposes.

A. Although not specifically identified by statute, we have historically relied on the United States Geological Survey (USGS) as the state-of-the-art expert regarding earthquake science.

A. Yes. In the fall of 2021, CEA established a Best Available Science Committee (BASC) to investigate recently published research, identifying elements of previous USGS reports that deserve further attention. The committee conducted 13 interviews with leading scientists and researchers, as well as with representatives of the three commercial modeling companies: CoreLogic, RMS, and AIR.<.p>

BASC has not identified any short-term or immediate modifications that should be made to CEA’s current view of risk but will be working with California Geological Survey (CGS) and USGS to enhance CEA’s participation in the development and validation of future USGS models.

A. According to the third Uniform California Earthquake Rupture Forecast (UCERF3) report, in the next 30 years (beginning in 2014), there is a:

• More than 99% chance that one or more M6.7 or greater earthquakes will strike somewhere in California
• 75% chance one or more M7.0 or greater earthquakes will strike Southern California
• 76% chance one or more M7.0 or greater earthquakes will strike Northern California

Check to see earthquake risk near you and take steps to get prepared!

A. There are thousands of known faults in California, and scientists continue to discover new ones. Since earthquakes can happen anywhere in California, damage to your home and personal property is always possible. Check to see earthquake risk near you and take steps to get prepared!

A. The state of California isn’t on any one particular fault, but rather, on thousands of known faults that crisscross the state. Scientists continue to discover new faults all the time. Check to see earthquake risk near you and take steps to get prepared!

A. Most Californians live within 30 miles of an active fault and earthquakes can strike anywhere, at any time—even on previously unknown faults. Even if your home is miles away from a fault or the epicenter of an earthquake, you could still experience damage from an earthquake. Check to see earthquake risk near you and take steps to get prepared!

A. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the Big One is a hypothetical southern California 7.8M earthquake modeled to cause 1800 deaths and cause $213 billion in economic losses.

A. You can prepare by practicing Drop, Cover, and Hold On and put into action the Seven Steps to Earthquake Safety. Talk to your insurance agent to discuss your insurance options.

A. Government assistance is not always available. First, you must qualify, and grants are often limited to urgent health and safety needs. And government loans to rebuild may be less than you need, but like your mortgage, must still be repaid.

A. When the legislature established CEA 25 years ago, it established a requirement that CEA use “best available science” for rate setting purposes.

A. Although not specifically identified by statute, we have historically relied on the United States Geological Survey (USGS) as the state-of-the-art expert regarding earthquake science.

A. Yes. In the fall of 2021, CEA established a Best Available Science Committee (BASC) to investigate recently published research, identifying elements of previous USGS reports that deserve further attention. The committee conducted 13 interviews with leading scientists and researchers, as well as with representatives of the three commercial modeling companies: CoreLogic, RMS, and AIR.<.p>

BASC has not identified any short-term or immediate modifications that should be made to CEA’s current view of risk but will be working with California Geological Survey (CGS) and USGS to enhance CEA’s participation in the development and validation of future USGS models.

A. California has two-thirds of our nation's earthquake risk. Structures that lack adequate sill plate bolting and cripple-wall bracing are more susceptible to earthquake damage.

The frames of older houses are often not bolted to their foundations, and their cripple walls may lack bracing. Houses without adequate bolting and bracing can slide or topple off their foundation during an earthquake, requiring potentially very expensive repairs. But this serious damage can be prevented with a proper seismic retrofit.

You may be eligible for financial help to pay for your house's retrofit. Learn more about our program—Earthquake Brace + Bolt—that offer grants of up to $3,000 to help pay for a seismic retrofit.

CEA policyholders with properly retrofitted houses are eligible for a discount of up to 25% off your CEA policy premium.

A. Interactive hazard maps are available from the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) at its My Hazards Awareness Map website on the “Earthquake Risk” tab.

Then enter your address into the map search field at the top of the page. When you click “Map Search,” you will be shown your local earthquake hazard on a map. The page will include a description of risks in your area from other hazards such as flood, fire, or tsunami.

A. Resources for bracing your water heater include: Earthquake Country Alliance and Seismic CA.

A. California has two-thirds of our nation's earthquake risk. Structures that lack adequate sill plate bolting and cripple-wall bracing are more susceptible to earthquake damage.

The frames of older houses are often not bolted to their foundations, and their cripple walls may lack bracing. Houses without adequate bolting and bracing can slide or topple off their foundation during an earthquake, requiring potentially very expensive repairs. But this serious damage can be prevented with a proper seismic retrofit.

You may be eligible for financial help to pay for your house's retrofit. Learn more about our program—Earthquake Brace + Bolt—that offer grants of up to $3,000 to help pay for a seismic retrofit.

CEA policyholders with properly retrofitted houses are eligible for a discount of up to 25% off your CEA policy premium.

A. Interactive hazard maps are available from the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) at its My Hazards Awareness Map website on the “Earthquake Risk” tab.

Then enter your address into the map search field at the top of the page. When you click “Map Search,” you will be shown your local earthquake hazard on a map. The page will include a description of risks in your area from other hazards such as flood, fire, or tsunami.

A. There is no such thing as an “earthquake-proof structure.” But there are straightforward measures that will likely reduce the potential for (or severity of) earthquake damage. The California Existing Building Code (CEBC) states that its retrofit provisions are "minimum standards intended to improve the seismic performance of residential buildings; however, they will not necessarily prevent earthquake damage."

How your house is built and its foundation type determine what type of retrofit your house needs. Houses with a raised concrete perimeter foundation that lack sill plate anchors and/or cripple wall bracing may follow existing state building code (CEBC, Appendix Chapter A3) or standard plan sets, which also provide step-by-step directions.

The following types of houses may require an engineer to design a retrofit:

• Soft-story row houses
• Houses on hillsides
• Houses with living space over the garage
• Post and pier foundation houses

A. It means that the framing of the house’s first floor is composed of beams and cross-beams made of wood. You should be able to look under the house to see if wooden beams and cross-beams support the first floor.

A. A cripple wall is a less-than-full-height wall, typically four feet or less tall, located between the house’s foundation and the base of the house’s first floor.

A. A continuous perimeter foundation is concrete and runs continuously, without gaps, under the exterior walls of your home. CEBC, Appendix Chapter A3, and standardized plan sets are designed specifically for this type of foundation that lacks sill plate anchors and/or cripple wall bracing. If you have a partial perimeter foundation or if your house foundation is made from unreinforced masonry or stone, you’ll need to have your house evaluated by an engineer or design professional before planning or commencing a retrofit, to ensure you will meet building-code requirements.

A. A slab-on-grade-foundation house has no basement and therefore no basement wall. Your house is built on a solid slab of concrete.

A. A low-slope building site has a natural slope of 10% or less. If columns or beams support a house, it’s likely the house has been built on a slope greater than 10%.

A. Prescriptive plans sets that do not require an engineered design, such as Appendix Chapter A3 of the CEBC or standard plan sets, may have already been approved by your local building official. Typically houses with cripple walls taller than 4’-0” require an engineered retrofit design. Homeowners, contractors, and design professionals should always check with the local building code official to verify local code requirements.

A. You can follow personal recommendations, or review advertisements or use directories or references provided online. You can also search contractors in the Contractor Directory on the Earthquake Brace + Bolt (EBB) website. Contractors on the EBB list have completed FEMA training for retrofits of houses with raised continuous perimeter foundations and cripple walls.

But regardless of how you find your contractor, before you make your final decision the CSLB recommends:

• Getting at least three written bids on the project
• Asking for personal recommendations
• Verifying the contractor's business location and telephone number
• Ensuring the contractor has a license and the legally required bond
• Verifying the contractor's workers’ compensation and commercial general liability insurance coverage

A. The Contractors State License Board (CSLB) provides online information about contractors, so you can verify their license number and verify the business name and whether their license is active.

A. If you have do-it-yourself skills, you can probably tackle the seismic retrofit work outlined in CEBC, Appendix Chapter A3. Or, you may find using a standard plan set easier, since it provides step-by-step directions on needed retrofit components and their proper placement. When you do this work without a licensed contractor, you become an “owner-builder,” which has risks and requirements you should fully understand before starting. You should also review the FEMA Education Course on raised-foundation or cripple-wall retrofits.

A. Check with your local building inspection department to verify the construction documents (drawings, etc.) required for a building permit—requirements vary considerably. Many building departments accept standard plan sets, which the owner-builder or contractor can access online. If you hire a registered design professional (architect or engineer) to design a retrofit for your cripple wall house, specify that they design the retrofit in accordance with Appendix Chapter A3 of the CEBC or one of the plan sets adopted by your local building official.

A. There are standard sets of plans. made available to homeowners and contractors, to use as construction documents for the seismic retrofit of wood-frame, single-family dwellings. These plan sets include specifications, details, and instructions for installing foundation anchorage and cripple-wall bracing (for walls shorter than four feet). Note that a registered design professional (architect or engineer) must design any modifications to plan-set provisions.

A. Check with your local building inspection department to see if it has adopted a standard plan set that meets the requirements of the CEBC, Appendix Chapter A3.

If not, determine whether “Plan Set A” is acceptable—this plan set applies to any wood-framed, single-family dwelling with a raised foundation and with or without a cripple wall of less than four feet. Download Plan Set A (PDF).

A. California has two-thirds of our nation's earthquake risk. Structures that lack adequate sill plate bolting and cripple-wall bracing are more susceptible to earthquake damage.

The frames of older houses are often not bolted to their foundations, and their cripple walls may lack bracing. Houses without adequate bolting and bracing can slide or topple off their foundation during an earthquake, requiring potentially very expensive repairs. But this serious damage can be prevented with a proper seismic retrofit.

You may be eligible for financial help to pay for your house's retrofit. Learn more about our program—Earthquake Brace + Bolt—that offer grants of up to $3,000 to help pay for a seismic retrofit.

CEA policyholders with properly retrofitted houses are eligible for a discount of up to 25% off your CEA policy premium.

A. There is no such thing as an “earthquake-proof structure.” But there are straightforward measures that will likely reduce the potential for (or severity of) earthquake damage. The California Existing Building Code (CEBC) states that its retrofit provisions are "minimum standards intended to improve the seismic performance of residential buildings; however, they will not necessarily prevent earthquake damage."

A. If your home has been properly retrofitted, you can receive up to 25% off of your CEA policy premium. Learn more about how to qualify for this Hazard Reduction Discount.

A. Claim adjusters responsible for earthquake claims in California, including CEA earthquake claims, must be properly certified and accredited before handling any residential earthquake insurance claim in the state.

To handle a CEA earthquake claim, you must complete these CEA and California Department of Insurance (CDI) training requirements before beginning the adjustment of the claim:

• California Fair Claims Settlement Practices Regulations (FCSPR) – every year
• CEA Policy Coverage Training – every 3 years
• CEA Residential Earthquake Damage Assessment (REDA) General Guidelines Training – encouraged every 3 years
• Insurance Adjuster Training for Evaluating Earthquake Damage – every 3 years
  As mandated by CDI regulations (Title 10 Chapter 5 California Code of Regulations Section 2695.42), the content of this training must include the following topics:
  
  1. California Fair Claims Settlement Practices Regulations (FCSPR)
  2. Determination of Scope of Loss*
  3. Loss Estimation Techniques
  4. Determination of Necessity for Engineer or Expert*
  5. CDI Earthquake Mediation Program
  6. Assessment of Damage to Concrete Surfaces and Foundations*
  7. Subsequently Discovered Earthquake Damage*
  8. Programs Designed to Assist Earthquake Victims

  *These topics are covered in the CEA Residential Earthquake Damage Assessment (REDA) General Guidelines Training and in the CEA Claim Manual.

Sign up for CEA Policy and Residential Earthquake Damage Assessment (REDA) online, self-directed training.

A. CEA offers free online, self-directed training courses for claim professionals. The courses include CEA Policy Coverage and CEA Residential Earthquake Damage Assessment (REDA) General Guidelines.

A. There are a couple of options:

If you still have the confirmation email you received when you registered:

• Click the link to access the course, which will take you to your dashboard. (Please note that the link expires 30 days after the registration date.)
• The certificate is available under the "Achievements" tab.

or
Contact the CEA Info Desk and ask CEA to send it to you:

• Notify CEA by submitting a Contact Us email request.
• Input the name and email address used to enroll in the training.
• In the "Comments" section, explain your request.
• Be sure to include the date or date range of the training.

Using this information, CEA's Info Desk will then email a copy of the certificate to you.

A. No, CEA does not sell stand-alone earthquake insurance policies. CEA’s policies must be purchased through one of CEA’s participating insurers authorized to sell CEA earthquake insurance, and only to those policyholders who have a companion Homeowners, Mobilehome Owners, Condo Unit Owners, Renters, or other residential property (fire) insurance policy issued by the same participating insurer.

A. CEA offers earthquake policies for homeowners, mobilehome owners, condo owners and renters. Review samples of each CEA policy type for 2019.

A. CEA’s participating insurers are insurance companies that issue CEA policies, and then process all policy applications, renewals, payments, and claims. In order to be issued a CEA earthquake policy, the insured must already have a residential (fire) policy in place with the issuing participating insurance company.