California Earthquake and Home Insurance: What Every Homeowner Needs to Know
Standard homeowners insurance does not cover earthquakes in California. Here's how earthquake insurance works, what the CEA offers, and how to protect your home.
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Get a Free QuoteWhy Earthquake Coverage Is Not in Your Standard Policy
Standard homeowners insurance policies in California explicitly exclude earthquake damage. This exclusion applies regardless of the magnitude of the quake. After a significant earthquake, California homeowners without a separate earthquake policy bear 100% of the repair costs themselves.
California sits along the Pacific Ring of Fire and has hundreds of active fault lines. The USGS estimates a 99.7% probability of a magnitude 6.7 or larger earthquake hitting California within the next 30 years.
The California Earthquake Authority (CEA)
The California Earthquake Authority is a privately funded, publicly managed earthquake insurance program — the largest provider of residential earthquake insurance in the world. CEA policies are sold through licensed insurance agents and provide dwelling coverage, personal property coverage, loss of use, and additional living expenses.
CEA policies have a standard deductible of 15–25% of the dwelling coverage amount. On a home insured for $500,000, a 15% deductible means $75,000 out of pocket before CEA pays. Higher deductible options are available at lower premiums.
Private Earthquake Insurance Alternatives
Several private insurers also offer California earthquake insurance, sometimes with lower deductibles or broader coverage than the CEA. Private earthquake insurance is particularly valuable for higher-value properties where the CEA coverage caps may be insufficient.
VKOVR helps California homeowners compare CEA and private earthquake insurance options, evaluate their seismic risk by location, and determine the right deductible and coverage level for their property value.
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