Make an affordable earthquake insurance choice with CEA policies. Earthquake damage to your California home is not covered by a homeowners insurance policy. Earthquake home insurance must be added by buying a separate policy.
CEA is not-for-profit. Our insurance rates are based on the best available science and research, not profit.
CEA earthquake homeowners insurance policies provide the financial strength you need to bounce back from a damaging earthquake.
Get a quick earthquake insurance estimate using the CEA calculator. And talk to your home insurance company about our earthquake-coverage choices. We aim to fit your needs and budget.
Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Earthquakes?
Your homeowners policy doesn’t cover earthquake damage.
Damage to your home from a strong earthquake is not covered by a homeowners insurance policy. In California, a separate policy is needed to protect your home investment and recover from the effects of a major earthquake. Prepare today for the big one with CEA earthquake homeowners insurance.
CEA homeowners coverage options*
We are one of the largest providers of California earthquake residential insurance. CEA is not-for-profit. Our insurance rates are based on the best available science and research, not profit. Get the best choice of earthquake home insurance with CEA coverage.
Home (dwelling)**
Dwelling coverage for your house can be purchased alone or with other coverages. Policy choices include earthquake damage to your house and structures attached to it, like your garage. Upcoming policy options changes will affect deductible options. Deductibles available are 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.
Personal Property**
Personal property coverage protects items inside your house. This includes protection for furniture, appliances, clothing, sporting goods and electronics that are damaged or destroyed in the event of a major earthquake. Household items damaged by a major earthquake may be repaired or replaced under this coverage.
Loss of Use
Where would you live if after a major earthquake you couldn’t occupy your home? Loss of Use covers the additional cost of living elsewhere while your home is being rebuilt or when a civil authority prevents entry to your neighborhood because of earthquake damage. Keep in mind you may be paying your mortgage while in temporary rental housing. Loss of Use not only covers rent but also additional items, including food, moving, and storage expenses. Our Loss of Use coverage never has a deductible.
Building Code Upgrade
Older homes that are damaged by a major earthquake may need upgraded components like plumbing, electrical, heating and air conditioning systems to pass local and state building inspections. Rebuilding after a devastating earthquake generally must be done to current building-code standards. Get help with added costs with Building Code upgrade coverage. A $10,000 building code upgrade coverage is included with every CEA homeowner policy—and there are higher coverage limits available.
Emergency Repairs
Emergency and necessary repairs may be needed after an earthquake to help protect your house and your family’s safety from additional earthquake damage or aftershocks. This would include rain damage that could seep into your home from earthquake damage—or labor and materials needed to board up damaged windows or remove broken glass from furniture. The first $1,500 has no deductible.
Breakables**
Not available for new policies written on or after August 1, 2023 and renewals on or after November 1, 2023.
Exterior Masonry Veneer**
Not available for new policies written on or after August 1, 2023 and renewals on or after November 1, 2023.
Do I Need Residential Earthquake Insurance?
For many California homeowners, their ownership interest in their home is their largest financial asset. Guard against financially devastating shaking events with CEA earthquake home insurance.
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 could suffer a devastating earthquake in the near future.
Earthquake insurance is not required in California, unlike home fire insurance for those with home mortgages or automobile liability insurance for drivers. If you choose not to protect yourself with earthquake insurance, you will be responsible for all the related expenses, such as 100 percent of the cost to repair your home, replace your belongings, and live elsewhere after a major earthquake.
How Expensive is Earthquake Insurance?
Our affordable earthquake insurance policies let you select the coverage that best fits your budget. CEA premiums are determined by several factors including your home’s age, earthquake-risk location data such as proximity to a fault and soil type, foundation type, construction type, and roof type.
For the best choice of CEA earthquake home insurance policies, select deductibles from 5%-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.
Learn more about homeowners coverage
- Get more details about our homeowners policy coverages and deductibles.
- Check to see if you qualify for a discount of up to 25% on your CEA earthquake insurance premium.
How to Qualify for a Discounted Premium
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 properly retrofitted to better withstand earthquakes.
Find out about our discounts for retrofitted older houses.
Grants to help pay for a house retrofit are available under the Earthquake Brace + Bolt (EBB) and Earthquake Soft-Story (ESS) programs.
Where to Buy Earthquake Insurance
CEA homeowners earthquake insurance is easy to buy. Contact your home insurance agent to discuss adding a separate earthquake policy to your homeowners insurance. You can add the coverage today—no need to wait until your homeowners policy comes up for renewal.
CEA works with residential insurance companies that serve the majority of California homeowners. Only Californians whose home is insured by those companies are eligible to purchase a CEA earthquake policy.
Read Your CEA Policy Carefully
*We encourage you to read your entire CEA policy—and its policy declarations page—to understand your coverages and how they work. Exclusions and special limits apply. All terms and conditions of CEA insurance coverage are found in the CEA insurance-policy form. Refer to a sample policy, below.
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Homeowners Insurance FAQs
We've gathered some frequently asked questions from homeowners to help you understand how a CEA policy can help you recover from the next damaging earthquake.
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.