Does Renters Insurance Cover Earthquakes?

Renters insurance is a must-have for anyone renting a place, but do you know what it covers? Typically, renters insurance covers damage to your personal belongings, liability for accidents, and temporary living expenses if you're forced to move out due to damage to the building.

Some renters insurance policies may also cover earthquake damage, but it depends on the policy and the location. In areas prone to earthquakes, like California, some policies may include earthquake coverage as an add-on. However, this is not always the case, and you should check your policy to be sure.

It's essential to review your policy and understand what's covered before an earthquake strikes. You don't want to be left with a big bill for damage that's not covered by your insurance.

Renters insurance can provide some level of protection against earthquake damage, but it's essential to understand what's covered and what's not.

Earthquake insurance for renters typically covers personal property, including furniture, appliances, clothing, and electronics, up to a certain limit. It also covers breakables, like glassware and pottery, which may not be included in standard renters insurance.

A typical earthquake policy for renters includes several coverage parts, including personal property coverage, breakables coverage, loss of use coverage, and debris removal. However, you'll need to pay a deductible, which is usually a percentage of the claim amount.

Here's a breakdown of the typical coverage parts:

Keep in mind that earthquake insurance for renters doesn't cover everything, and you might not have coverage even if an earthquake is to blame.

Renters earthquake insurance covers your belongings when they're damaged by an earthquake. This includes furniture, appliances, clothing, and electronics.

Earthquake insurance for renters has several coverage parts, including personal property coverage, breakables coverage, loss of use coverage, and debris removal.

Personal property coverage pays to repair or replace your belongings if they're damaged in an earthquake, which can be a lifesaver after a disaster. This coverage includes fragile items like glassware, pottery, or porcelain, which might not be covered automatically.

Breakables coverage is a separate type of coverage that pays to repair or replace fragile items, so it's essential to check if you have this coverage included in your policy.

Loss of use coverage pays for a hotel or temporary apartment if you can't live in your rented home or building after an earthquake, which can be a huge relief.

Debris removal pays for the cost of removing earthquake debris from the home or property you are renting, which can be a significant expense.

Here are the different coverage parts of an earthquake policy for renters:

Your earthquake policy will also have a deductible, which is the amount you pay before your coverage kicks in.

Renters insurance coverage is a must-have for anyone living in earthquake-prone areas. Earthquake insurance for renters covers your belongings when they are damaged by an earthquake.

Personal property coverage pays to repair or replace your belongings if they're damaged in an earthquake. This includes furniture, appliances, clothing, and electronics.

Breakables coverage is a separate type of coverage that pays to repair or replace fragile items like glassware, pottery, or porcelain. These items aren't usually covered automatically.

Loss of use coverage pays for a hotel or temporary apartment if you can't live in your rented home or building after an earthquake. It also pays for things like restaurant and laundromat services, parking fees, and pet boarding.

Debris removal pays for the cost of removing earthquake debris from the home or property you are renting.

Here are the different coverage parts of an earthquake policy for renters:

Your earthquake policy will also have a deductible, which is the amount you pay before your coverage kicks in.

We collected sample renters insurance quotes for 25 California cities to help you understand the costs involved. Our experts used two different levels of coverage to provide a comprehensive picture.

We used the California Earthquake Authority (CEA) cost estimator to gather rates, which is a reliable source since the CEA handles the majority of all earthquake insurance policies sold in California.

Earthquake damage can be devastating, but renters insurance can help alleviate some of the financial burden. Personal property coverage pays to repair or replace your belongings if they're damaged in an earthquake.

Furniture, appliances, clothing, and electronics are all covered under personal property coverage. Breakables coverage pays to repair or replace fragile items like glassware, pottery, or porcelain, which is often a separate type of coverage.

Loss of use coverage pays for a hotel or temporary apartment if you can't live in your rented home or building after an earthquake, and it also covers expenses like restaurant and laundromat services, parking fees, and pet boarding.

A deductible is also part of your earthquake policy, which is the amount you pay before your coverage kicks in. Typically, earthquake deductibles are percentages, such as 15%, which means you have to pay that percentage of a claim.

Your car is not protected by earthquake insurance for renters, so you'll need to consider separate coverage for it.

Damage to the structure of your apartment or house is also not covered by a renters earthquake policy. This means your landlord is responsible for repairing any damage to the building.

Flooding, even if caused by an earthquake, is not covered by earthquake insurance for renters. This is something to keep in mind if you live near the coast.

Any damage that isn't related to earth movement is also not covered by a renters earthquake policy. This includes damage from things like fires or vandalism.

Here are some specific things that are not covered by renters earthquake insurance:

Earthquake damage can be devastating, and it's essential to understand what's covered and what's not. Your earthquake policy will cover damage to your belongings, including furniture, appliances, clothing, and electronics, as well as fragile items like glassware and pottery.

You'll also be protected against loss of use, which pays for a hotel or temporary apartment if you can't live in your rented home or building after an earthquake. This coverage also includes expenses like restaurant and laundromat services, parking fees, and pet boarding.

A deductible will apply to your earthquake policy, which is the amount you pay before your coverage kicks in. This deductible is usually a percentage, so if you have a 15% deductible and $8,000 worth of damage, you'll pay $1,200 and your insurance company will cover the rest.

The type of earthquake damage you're protected against is limited to damage caused by earthquakes and other related events, like aftershocks and sinkholes. However, flooding caused by an earthquake is usually not covered, even if you live near the coast.

Here's a breakdown of what your earthquake policy might cover:

Remember, earthquake insurance is usually an add-on to your standard policy, so you'll need to purchase it separately to be protected against earthquakes.

CEA earthquake insurance for renters is not required in California, but it's a good idea to have it to protect yourself from costly damages.

You can purchase CEA earthquake insurance for as little as $35 per year, depending on your location and the coverages you choose.

The cost of your policy will depend on where you live and the coverages and deductibles you select.

You can add a CEA earthquake renters policy to your rental home policy at any time, not just during renewal.

Contact your home insurance agent to get started.

Earthquake insurance can add a significant amount to your renters insurance premium, with costs ranging from $800 to $3,000 per year in high-risk areas.

Carriers consider factors like the condition and age of your rental building when setting your rates, so older homes and apartments in older buildings may be more expensive to cover.

Standard renters insurance policies typically cost between $150 to $300 per year, making earthquake insurance a notable additional expense.

The building's structure isn't covered by your renters insurance policy, as it's owned by the landlord and covered under their landlord policy.

If you live in an earthquake-prone area, consider getting earthquake insurance in addition to renters insurance.

Renters insurance doesn't cover damage caused directly by earthquakes, but you can add an earthquake endorsement to your policy at any time.

An earthquake endorsement will cover your personal property if it's damaged by an earthquake, such as if your computer falls off your desk and breaks.

You can combine earthquake and renters insurance claims if you have an earthquake endorsement on your policy. This means you'll have one claim to file for damage caused by the earthquake, including any secondary perils like fire or theft.

If your property suffers earthquake damage and fire damage from the earthquake, you'll only have to file one insurance claim. Depending on your policy and insurer, you may only have to pay one deductible as well.

Combining claims can save you time and hassle, and ensure you receive the coverage you need in a stressful situation.

An endorsement can be added to your renters insurance policy at any time, so you can get the coverage you need even if you've already started your policy.

You can add an earthquake endorsement to your renters insurance policy if you live in an earthquake-prone area, which is a good idea since regular renters insurance doesn't cover damage caused directly by earthquakes.

An earthquake endorsement will cover your personal property if it's damaged by an earthquake, such as if a computer falls off a desk and breaks.

If you're still unsure about earthquake insurance coverage, here are a few common questions and answers to help clarify things.

Earthquake insurance coverage is not typically included in standard renters insurance policies, and it's usually an additional cost.

You can purchase earthquake insurance as a separate policy or add it to your existing renters insurance policy, depending on your provider's options.

Some insurance providers may offer earthquake insurance coverage as an add-on to your renters insurance policy, but it's essential to check with your provider to see what's available.

The cost of earthquake insurance can vary depending on your location, the value of your belongings, and other factors, so it's a good idea to shop around and compare prices.

Still have questions about earthquake insurance coverage?