If you're buying a home in Washington state, you've probably heard whispers about "the big one." Unlike hurricanes that give you days of warning or wildfires you can see coming, earthquakes strike without notice. And here's something that catches most new homeowners off guard: your standard homeowners insurance won't cover earthquake damage. Not a crack, not a collapsed chimney, not a single broken window.
Washington sits in one of the most seismically active regions in the United States. More than 1,000 earthquakes rattle the state every year—most too small to feel, but enough to remind us that we're living on geologically unstable ground. Whether earthquake insurance makes sense for your situation depends on your home's value, your location, and honestly, your peace of mind. Let's break down what you need to know.
Understanding Washington's Earthquake Risk
Washington faces earthquake threats from three different sources. There are shallow earthquakes caused by the Seattle Fault and other local faults, which tend to be smaller but can cause significant damage because they're close to populated areas. Then there are deep earthquakes that occur 30-60 miles underground in the subducting oceanic plate—these happen more frequently but usually cause less surface damage. And finally, there's the elephant in the room: the Cascadia Subduction Zone.
The Cascadia Subduction Zone is a 600-mile fault line running from Northern California through Oregon and Washington to British Columbia. It's capable of producing magnitude 9.0 earthquakes—the kind that reshapes coastlines and makes international news. The last time it ruptured was January 26, 1700, generating an earthquake so powerful it sent a tsunami across the Pacific Ocean to Japan. Scientists have calculated there's a 10-15% chance of another magnitude 9.0 event in the next 50 years. That might sound low, but it's roughly the same odds as flipping heads twice in a row—not something you'd bet your home on.
Cities like Seattle, Tacoma, and Olympia face particularly high risk due to their proximity to fault lines and soil conditions that can amplify shaking. If you live in these areas, earthquake insurance isn't just a theoretical consideration—it's protection against a documented geological threat that has destroyed homes in the past and will again in the future.
What Earthquake Insurance Actually Covers
Earthquake insurance comes in two main flavors in Washington. You can add it as an endorsement to your existing homeowners policy, or you can buy it as a standalone policy from a specialty insurer. Either way, the coverage works similarly. A typical policy protects your dwelling (the house itself), detached structures (like garages or sheds), personal property (your furniture, electronics, and belongings), and loss of use (which pays for hotels or rental housing if your home becomes uninhabitable during repairs).
Here's what surprises people: earthquake damage extends beyond the obvious structural cracks. Your policy typically covers foundation damage, collapsed walls or roofs, broken gas lines, damaged electrical systems, and even items like burst water pipes caused by the shaking. Some policies also cover damage from aftershocks, which can continue for days or weeks after the initial quake.
But there are limits. Most earthquake policies won't cover landscaping, fences, driveways, or retaining walls—or they'll have separate, smaller limits for these items. Some policies exclude masonry veneer or chimneys unless you pay extra. And if you have a pool, outdoor kitchen, or other luxury outdoor features, read your policy carefully. These are often excluded or have minimal coverage.
The Real Cost: Premiums and Deductibles
Most Washington homeowners pay between $100 and $500 per year for earthquake insurance. That's the premium—the part that feels manageable. But the deductible is where earthquake insurance gets expensive, and it works completely differently from your regular homeowners deductible.
Instead of a flat amount like $1,000 or $2,500, earthquake insurance deductibles are percentage-based, typically ranging from 10% to 25% of your dwelling coverage limit. Let's say your home is insured for $500,000 with a 15% deductible. If an earthquake causes $200,000 in damage, you'll pay the first $75,000 out of pocket before insurance kicks in. Yes, $75,000. That's not a typo.
Some insurers offer lower deductibles—down to 2.5% in rare cases, or as high as 25% if you want rock-bottom premiums. The math is simple: lower deductibles mean higher annual premiums, but you'll pay less out of pocket if disaster strikes. Higher deductibles make the policy affordable year-to-year, but you're gambling that you'll either never need it or that you'll have tens of thousands of dollars saved when you do.
Your actual premium depends on several factors: your home's location (Seattle costs more than Spokane), the age and construction type of your home (newer homes with modern seismic retrofitting cost less), your home's value, and the deductible you choose. Homes built on solid bedrock generally cost less to insure than homes on loose soil or landfill, which amplifies earthquake shaking.
Is Earthquake Insurance Worth It for You?
Here's the uncomfortable truth: earthquake insurance isn't required in Washington state. Your mortgage lender won't force you to buy it. Unlike flood insurance in flood zones, there's no federal mandate. The decision is entirely yours, which means you need to think through your specific situation.
Consider earthquake insurance if you couldn't afford to repair or rebuild your home out of pocket. If a major earthquake destroyed your $600,000 home and you don't have $600,000 in savings, you'd be paying a mortgage on a pile of rubble while simultaneously paying rent somewhere else. That's the nightmare scenario earthquake insurance prevents. Even with a high deductible, having $400,000 or $500,000 in coverage beats having nothing.
Also consider it if you live in high-risk areas like Seattle, Tacoma, Bellingham, or anywhere in Western Washington near the Cascadia Subduction Zone. The closer you are to known fault lines and the coast, the more sense coverage makes. Older homes built before modern seismic building codes are particularly vulnerable—if your home was built before 1990, seriously consider coverage.
On the flip side, you might skip earthquake insurance if you have substantial savings—enough to cover your deductible and then some. Or if your home has been seismically retrofitted with foundation bolting, cripple wall bracing, and other earthquake-resistant features, your actual risk is lower. Some people in Eastern Washington, which has lower seismic risk than the western part of the state, decide the premiums aren't worth it for their specific location.
How to Get Started with Earthquake Insurance
Start by calling your current homeowners insurance company. Most major insurers in Washington either offer earthquake endorsements or can connect you with a partner company that provides standalone coverage. Get quotes with different deductible levels—10%, 15%, 20%, and 25%—so you can see how the numbers change. Run the math on what each deductible would actually cost you in dollar terms based on your home's insured value.
Ask about coverage for detached structures and personal property—these sometimes have separate, lower limits. Find out if loss of use coverage is included and how much it pays per day for temporary housing. And critically, ask about the waiting period. Most earthquake policies have a 30-day waiting period before coverage begins, so you can't buy a policy the day after scientists predict increased seismic activity.
If cost is a major concern, consider starting with a higher deductible to keep premiums low, then building an emergency savings fund specifically for earthquake repairs. Some homeowners set aside the money they'd pay for a lower deductible into a dedicated savings account. Over time, this can give you more financial flexibility while still maintaining catastrophic coverage.
Living in Washington means accepting a certain level of seismic risk. You can't control when or if the Cascadia Subduction Zone ruptures, but you can control whether you're financially prepared when it does. Earthquake insurance isn't cheap when you factor in those percentage-based deductibles, but neither is rebuilding a home from scratch. Get quotes, run the numbers for your specific situation, and make an informed decision. Your future self—possibly standing in front of a damaged home—will appreciate the thought you put into it now.
