How much does earthquake insurance cost in California?
The statewide averages from the regulator's own data, and what actually moves your premium up or down.
The 2025 statewide averages
Every insurer that writes residential property in California reports its earthquake premiums and policy counts to the Department of Insurance each year. These are the 2025 residential totals, the most recent published (CDI Earthquake Premium and Policy Count Data Call, 2025).
| Policy type | Average annual earthquake premium | Average rate per $1,000 of coverage | Share of policies with earthquake coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homeowners | $1,440 | $1.62 | 15.2% |
| Condominium unit owners | $538 | $12.68 | 14.1% |
| Renters | $87 | $2.86 | 13.3% |
| Mobilehome | $340 | $1.99 | 19.0% |
| Dwelling fire | $953 | $1.46 | 2.9% |
| All residential | $956 | $1.70 | 12.5% |
Turning the average rate into a number for your house
Multiply your dwelling limit by the average homeowners rate and you get a starting point. It is not your quote, but it tells you whether a real quote is in the neighborhood or an outlier worth questioning.
| Dwelling limit | Annual premium at the average rate | Monthly equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| $400,000 | About $650 | About $54 |
| $600,000 | About $970 | About $81 |
| $800,000 | About $1,300 | About $108 |
| $1,000,000 | About $1,620 | About $135 |
| $1,500,000 | About $2,430 | About $203 |
Remember that the dwelling limit on a CEA policy must equal the dwelling limit on your homeowners policy, so the number you multiply is already on your declarations page. Use the deductible calculator on our California earthquake insurance page to see what that same limit means for your out-of-pocket share.
The seven things that move your premium
- Location - ZIP code and distance to the nearest active fault dominate; a home astride the Hayward or San Andreas system rates very differently from one in the Central Valley
- Soil - soft soil and fill amplify shaking and can liquefy; bedrock does neither
- Year built and construction - pre-1980 wood-frame homes on raised foundations are the most vulnerable common house type, and unretrofitted ones pay the most and lose the low-deductible options
- Foundation and retrofit - a verified brace-and-bolt retrofit earns a CEA discount of up to 25 percent and reopens the 5 and 10 percent deductibles
- Stories and shape - multi-story, split-level, and hillside homes carry more risk than a single-story box
- Deductible - moving from 15 percent to 5 percent raises the premium substantially, because the insurer is now paying for moderate damage as well as catastrophic
- Limits beyond the dwelling - raising personal property from $5,000 to $25,000 and loss of use toward $100,000 adds cost, and usually should
The discount side of that list is worth its own read: earthquake retrofits, Brace + Bolt grants, and the insurance discount.
CEA or private: does the price differ?
Often, yes, in both directions. The CEA prices off a statewide rate plan with a legal cap of 6 percent of premium on operating expenses (CEA); private carriers price off their own models and can be cheaper on well-built newer homes in lower-hazard areas and more expensive, or unavailable, on the risks they do not want. The only way to know is to quote both, which is what a broker is for. See CEA vs private earthquake insurance.
Is the premium worth it?
At the statewide average, a $600,000 home pays roughly $970 a year to move a catastrophic loss off its own balance sheet. Whether that is worth it depends on your equity and your ability to absorb the deductible, which is the whole subject of is earthquake insurance worth it in California?
Sources
Figures and definitions on this page come from the regulator or the body that publishes them. Each link was checked on the review date above.
- Earthquake Premium and Policy Count Data Call - Summary of 2025 Residential Totals California Department of Insurance
- CEA's Financial Strength California Earthquake Authority
- Homeowners earthquake insurance coverages and deductibles California Earthquake Authority
- How to qualify for an earthquake insurance premium discount California Earthquake Authority
Frequently asked questions
How much is earthquake insurance in California per month?
At the 2025 statewide average homeowners rate of about $1.62 per $1,000 of coverage, a $600,000 home runs roughly $970 a year, or about $81 a month. A $1,000,000 home runs about $1,620 a year. Renters average $87 a year. These are Department of Insurance averages, not quotes.
Why is earthquake insurance so expensive in California?
Because a single event can damage hundreds of thousands of homes at once, so the insurer has to hold enormous capital against one bad day. The premium is also front-loaded toward the structure: on a CEA policy the dwelling limit must match your homeowners policy, so a high-value home carries a high earthquake limit whether or not it is likely to be a total loss.
Does the deductible change the price?
Substantially. A 5 percent deductible costs far more than a 15 percent deductible on the same house because the insurer is now covering moderate damage, which is far more common than catastrophic damage. Choose the deductible by what you could actually pay in cash after a quake, not by the premium alone.
Can I lower my earthquake insurance premium?
Yes. A verified seismic retrofit earns a CEA discount of 10 to 25 percent depending on the home's age and foundation, and the Earthquake Brace + Bolt program offers up to $3,000 toward the work plus up to $7,000 for income-eligible households. Raising the deductible also lowers the premium, at the cost of a larger out-of-pocket share.
Get your free quote
Tell us what you need and a licensed California broker will reach out with real options. Simple situation or complicated one, we shop it the same way.
California only, for now. We are licensed in California and that is where we write.
What you can do right now
- RentersQuote and buy online in minutes
- CyberComing soon
- AutoComing soon
- HomeComing soon
- PetComing soon
- EarthquakeComing soon
Something a form cannot handle - wildfire, FAIR Plan, SR-22, a claims history? Send us the details and a licensed broker will work it by hand.