Our recommendation
If you live in California, the CEA should be your first stop when shopping for earthquake insurance. Check to find out if your current home insurance company is one of the insurance companies that provide earthquake insurance through the CEA, and spend some time getting to know what kind of coverage CEA plans offer.
You can then compare CEA plans to what’s available elsewhere, including standalone policies and endorsements. You will likely be required to buy your homeowners and earthquake insurance through the same company if buying a CEA policy.
Outside of California, talk to your current insurance company to see if an endorsement is available. If you’re already happy with your insurer, you will find it easiest to simply add the coverage you need to the existing policy.
“Talk with your insurance agent to find out what is available to you. A standalone policy and an endorsement may both provide the earthquake insurance that you need. Answering the questions to determine your needs will help you and your agent determine the right type and amount of earthquake insurance coverage,” Ruiz says.
Best earthquake insurance companies
Before discussing which companies are the best for earthquake insurance, it’s important to note that few companies write standalone earthquake insurance policies. In California, many big-name (and smaller) companies partner with the CEA to provide its policies; CEA is the state's largest earthquake insurance provider. In other states, earthquake coverage is more likely to be an endorsement.
Because earthquake insurance options vary, it’s difficult to provide a straightforward ranking to say which is the best. So our editors examined the options, looking at company reputation, available coverage and third-party ratings to identify a list of insurance companies that are good picks for earthquake insurance, in no particular order.
Amica
Pros:
- Low rates on home insurance
- Great customer service
Cons:
- Not available outside of California
Amica earned a spot on our list for several reasons. First, it’s the No. 2 company in our list of the best home insurance companies, based on a comprehensive rating system that includes a customer survey.
Amica works with the CEA to provide earthquake insurance in California, the only state in which the coverage is offered. Earthquake coverage can be added to an Amica home insurance policy, and the company had the lowest average homeowners insurance rates in our recent analysis. You can also bundle auto, life and other coverage to keep all of your insurance in one place.
GeoVera
Pros:
- Offers standalone earthquake insurance
- Offers online quoting and purchasing
Cons:
- No coverage outside of the West Coast
- No options for bundling coverage
Earthquake insurance is what GeoVera does. Although the company writes a few other types of coverage in Florida, in the three West Coast states it serves, earthquake insurance is the company’s focus.
GeoVera makes it easy to buy standalone earthquake insurance, with the option to quote and buy online, and sells policies in California, Oregon and Washington. You can’t bundle other policies here, but it’s one of the easiest ways to get coverage fast.
Nationwide
Pros:
- Available for high-value homes
- Bundling is available
- Coverage available in most states
Cons:
- Home insurance rates are above average
Nationwide’s Private Client program offers earthquake insurance for high-value homes, making it a good choice for those in California’s pricier ZIP codes. The standard home insurance program is also among those listed on the CEA’s website, making it an option for all homeowners.
Although Nationwide doesn’t offer insurance in every state, it’s available in most. And Nationwide ranked at No. 7 overall among the best home insurance companies.
Liberty Mutual
Pros:
- Offers earthquake insurance to renters as well as homeowners
- Partners with the CEA
- Bundling is available
Cons:
- Below-average score for customer service with J.D. Power
Liberty Mutual is one of the largest home insurance companies in the U.S. and partners with the CEA to offer earthquake insurance to homeowners. It also offers an earthquake insurance endorsement for its renters insurance program, allowing renters to protect their personal property.
Liberty Mutual doesn’t provide rates to our data service, Quadrant, and as a result it’s not ranked in our annual best home insurance companies list. However, our 2023 survey found that 87% of customers would recommend the company.
How to buy earthquake insurance
If you live in California, the CEA is a good place to start when shopping for earthquake insurance. You can also talk to your current insurance company to find out if an earthquake endorsement is available and if not what the agent or representative recommends. The same applies outside of California.
You may also want to speak with an independent insurance agent who can provide quotes from multiple companies, and perhaps shop your homeowners and auto insurance around at the same time to see if a cheaper bundled option is available.
“Rates for earthquake insurance can vary significantly, from fairly inexpensive in lower-risk areas to a relatively high cost in places that are more prone to earthquakes. Deductibles for earthquake insurance plans are higher than those in standard homeowners or renters insurance, usually from 5 to 15 percent of the policy limit,” Ruiz says.
Make sure you read all of the coverage offers carefully and compare things like coverage for the house and for personal property, limits and deductibles.