Friday, November 6, 2026

Question: Does a standard homeowners policy cover earthquake damage?

Answer: Generally, no. Standard homeowners policies exclude earthquake damage, so owners buy quake coverage as an add-on or a separate policy. The deductible is usually 2% to 20% of what it would cost to rebuild. On a $300,000 rebuild, a 10% deductible means the owner pays the first $30,000. A regular homeowners policy still covers a fire started by an earthquake in most states.