Earthquake Insurance Premium Calculator

California earthquake insurance is separate from homeowners — high deductible, modest claim coverage.

Dwelling coverage

Premium per $100k

Deductible %

Retrofit credit %

Annual premium

$1,350

Deductible amount

$75,000

Monthly premium

$113

How the math works

Base = (dwelling/100k) × per-100k rate. Premium = base × (1 − retrofit credit).

$500k / 100k × $300 = $1,500 × 0.90 = $1,350 annual. 15% deductible = $75,000.

How to Use

Enter dwelling coverage.
Enter premium per $100k.
Enter deductible %.
Enter retrofit credit %.
Read annual premium.

Frequently Asked Questions

Earthquake insurance landscape?

California Earthquake Authority (CEA): standard EQ policy in CA. Premium: $100–500/$100k dwelling depending on zip. Deductible: 5–25% of dwelling coverage (often 10–15%). Coverage: dwelling, contents ($25k limit standard), loss of use. Private alternatives: GeoVera, ICW, Palomar — often higher limits, lower deductibles, comparable price. Outside CA: less common offering, typically rider. Risk concentration: Bay Area + LA = highest premium; Central Valley lower. Retrofit credits: 5–25% for foundation bolting, soft-story retrofit.

How is this insurance cost determined?

Property and liability insurance pricing depends on construction class, occupancy class, sprinkler/alarm, location (CAT exposure: hurricane, earthquake, flood, wildfire), claims history, deductibles, and policy limits. Hard market 2022–2025: rates +20–60%, capacity tighter, deductibles higher. Soft market typical 2010–2019: stable to declining. Underwrite for cycle.

Coverage adequacy?

Property: replacement cost vs ACV, coinsurance penalty if under-insured (80–100% requirement). Business interruption: 12–24 months typical, period of restoration triggers. General liability: $1–2M/$2–4M, umbrella to $5–25M depending on occupancy. Pollution legal liability: critical for environmental-risk assets. Builders risk for construction. Match coverage to actual exposure.

Deductible strategy?

Higher deductibles save 5–25% on premium but require risk capital. Wind/hail named storm deductibles: 2–10% of TIV in CAT zones. All-other-perils: $5–25k typical. Self-insured retention (SIR) for sophisticated operators: $50k–500k. Captive insurance: $1M+ minimum, complex but effective for portfolios. Match deductible to financial strength and risk tolerance.