Inside an earthquake insurance policy

Pays For:

Repairs to your house/building and attached structures, such as a garage.

Your personal belongings, such as furniture and clothes.

Additional living expenses, such as hotel bills if you can’t live in your home.

Doesn’t Pay For:

Fires caused by an earthquake. That’s already covered under your homeowners insurance.

Vehicle damage. Buy comprehensive auto insurance for that.

Floods. You’ll need separate flood insurance, even if the flood is a byproduct of an earthquake.

Sinkholes. Some states require insurers to offer sinkhole insurance, or you can typically add it to your homeowners insurance or buy separate coverage.

Masonry, such as the brick, stone or rock used for your home’s veneer.

Depending on your policy, coverage for other structures, such as a carport or toolshed, and debris removal may also come standard.

Optional coverage may include:

Building code upgrades
Land restoration
Emergency repairs

How are earthquake insurance rates determined?

Rates for earthquake insurance will depend on your coverage limits, deductible and a handful of other factors, including:

• Your ZIP code.
• The age of your building.
• The number of stories in your building.
• Your building’s rebuilding cost.
• The soil type on your property.
• The building materials used in your structure.
• Your area’s proximity to fault lines and seismic activity.