Earthquake Insurance

5 Before You Buy Earthquake Insurance… Earthquake insurance covers some of the losses and damage that earthquakes can cause to your home, belongings, and other buildings on your property. If you have a mortgage, you must have homeowners insurance. But you do not have to buy earthquake insurance. • Your homeowners insurance does not cover earthquake damage (except fire—see page 9). I have homeowners insurance. How can I get earthquake insurance? If you have homeowners insurance in California, your company must offer to sell you earthquake insurance. It must offer this every other year. • The offer must be in writing. It must tell you the amounts it covers (the limits), the deductible, and the premium. • You have 30 days to accept the offer. The 30-day period starts the date the company mails the offer to you. If you do not reply, you are rejecting the offer. Does earthquake insurance cover all damage from earthquakes? No. There are limits on what earthquake insurance pays. The purpose of earthquake insurance is to help put a roof back over your head. It does not replace everything you lost. What if I rent? You can buy earthquake insurance to cover damage to your belongings and to pay for living somewhere else while your rented home is being repaired.