Does Home Insurance Cover Earthquakes in Washington? (Short Answer: No) | Reynolds Insurance
Earthquake & Disaster Coverage

Does Home Insurance Cover Earthquakes in Washington?

The short answer is no, and it has always been no. Here’s what that means for a state with the second-highest earthquake risk in the country.

Reynolds Insurance Agency, Bellingham WA 5 min read Homeowners Insurance
Older Pacific Northwest home on a residential street

Quick answer: Standard homeowners insurance in Washington excludes earthquake damage entirely. Earthquake protection is available as a separate policy or as an endorsement on your existing policy, and its deductible is calculated as a percentage of your dwelling coverage rather than a flat dollar amount.

Most homeowners assume a catastrophic event is exactly what their policy is for. Earthquake is the exception, and it’s the exclusion people are most surprised by. It isn’t buried in fine print as a trap. It’s been standard in Washington homeowners policies for decades, for the same reason flood is excluded: when one event can damage tens of thousands of homes simultaneously, it gets priced and underwritten separately.

What the exclusion actually covers?

Without earthquake coverage, a damaging quake leaves you responsible for structural repair, foundation work, chimney collapse, and cracked walls. Fire following an earthquake is usually still covered by the standard policy, which surprises people in the other direction. The shaking itself is what sits outside the contract.

How the deductible works, and why it matters more than the premium?

This is the part that catches people. Earthquake deductibles are a percentage of your dwelling coverage, not a flat $1,000 or $2,500 like the rest of your policy. Commonly that percentage lands somewhere in the 10 to 20 percent range, depending on the carrier and the option selected.

$500,000
Example dwelling coverage
15%
Example deductible selected
$75,000
Out of pocket before coverage responds

That structure means earthquake coverage is built for the event that damages or destroys a home, not the one that cracks some drywall. Knowing that up front is the difference between a policy that disappoints you and a policy that does the job you bought it for.

What affects the cost?

  • Age and construction. Older homes, and homes with unreinforced masonry or a raised foundation, generally cost more to insure.
  • Foundation bolting. Whether the house is anchored to its foundation is one of the biggest factors in both premium and actual survivability.
  • Deductible chosen. A higher percentage deductible lowers the premium, sometimes substantially.
  • Location. Proximity to known fault zones and soil type both feed into the rate.

The question worth asking: if your home were a total loss tomorrow and no insurance responded, what would that do to your household? If the answer is “it would end us financially,” that’s the case for coverage, independent of how likely you think a quake is.

Frequently asked questions

Does homeowners insurance cover earthquake damage in Washington?
No. Standard homeowners insurance in Washington excludes earthquake damage entirely. Earthquake protection must be purchased as a separate policy or added as an endorsement to an existing homeowners policy.
How does an earthquake insurance deductible work?
Earthquake deductibles are usually a percentage of the dwelling coverage amount rather than a flat dollar figure, commonly in the 10 to 20 percent range. On a home insured for $500,000, a 15 percent deductible means the first $75,000 of damage is the homeowner’s responsibility.
Is earthquake insurance worth it in Whatcom County?
It depends on the age and construction of the home, whether it is bolted to its foundation, and how much of your net worth sits in the property. Washington carries the second-highest earthquake risk of any US state, and without coverage, repairs come out of pocket.

Find out what earthquake coverage would cost on your home

We’ll quote it against your actual dwelling amount and walk you through the deductible options. Free, no obligation.

Get an Earthquake Quote Call 360-676-0224
Earthquake InsuranceHomeowners InsuranceWashington StateWhatcom CountyCoverage Gaps

Figures shown are illustrative examples for general education. Deductible structures, availability, and pricing vary by carrier, home, and underwriting. This is not a quote, binding offer, or guarantee of coverage. Reynolds Insurance Agency LLC is an insurance agency serving Bellingham and Whatcom County, WA. 360-676-0224