Does Renters Insurance Cover Earthquakes?

While the overall goal of renters insurance is to keep you and your possessions safe, almost every renters insurance policy has a designated list of perils that are excluded from coverage.

If you live in an area where earthquakes are common (including mudslides or shifting earth), you need to understand what renters earthquake insurance looks like, how your standard renters policy applies, and if you need additional earthquake insurance for renters. 

Let’s explore the options in greater detail. 

No, almost all renters insurance policies exclude earthquake damage from your policy’s coverage. This also includes damage caused by shifting earth. And while your state may include some financial coverage if your area is classified as a disaster zone through FEMA, that likely won’t be enough to cover the full extent of damage caused by a severe earthquake.

That’s where separate renters earthquake insurance steps in. 

Yes, if you live in an area that’s impacted by earthquakes, having renters earthquake insurance is as important as your standard coverage. The loss and damage that can be caused by an earthquake could be insurmountable without the right policies in place to provide financial relief. 

Equally as important, added earthquake insurance for renters covers more than just earthquakes. Here is a list of the types of perils typically included under your earthquake insurance policy:

It’s important to note that flooding is noticeably missing from the list of perils covered by renters earthquake insurance. While flooding can occur after an earthquake, damage caused by flooding to your home or possessions won’t be covered under your earthquake policy.

If flooding is common in your area, you’ll always want to explore flood insurance to fully protect your home. Your vehicle and the structure of your home are also excluded from earthquake coverage protection.

While earthquake insurance may be available as an add-on to your current renters policy, you may also consider getting specific earthquake insurance for renters through an insurance provider if they offer comparable or more competitive coverage. 

Like your traditional renters insurance coverage, earthquake insurance includes the same personal property coverage and loss of use protection that you get with other policies. Earthquake insurance is typically broken down into three main categories:

When most people think about earthquake insurance, they only consider it a necessity if they live on fault lines or states (including California) where earthquakes are more common.

Like with flood coverage, it’s important to recognize that earthquake insurance covers more than just one specific event. If your rental property is impacted by sinkholes or any form of shifting earth, your standard renters insurance coverage may not cover the damage. 

If you live in a state where seismic activity is less common, you may also have significantly lower premiums, making earthquake insurance as a renter even smarter.