GeoVera Quake Select is an A.M. Best A rated earthquake insurance option in California where over 1.5 million homes have earthquake insurance coverage. Our analysis of rates found that GeoVera sometimes has more competitive rates than the CEA with its ‘Quake Select’ offering, which we review here.

This review has not been reviewed or endorsed by GeoVera or any other insurance carrier – consult a licensed agent before making an insurance decision.

Unlike California Earthquake Authority (CEA) policies that require you to carry your homeowners insurance with a partner carrier, GeoVera Quake Select (underwritten by Coastal Select Insurance Company) is available as an add on to most homeowners policies. 

GeoVera Quake Select also offers more comprehensive coverage options for homeowners than the CEA for things like breakables, pools, and masonry. 

Pros

• Deductibles as low as 2.5% available
• Lowest deductibles available on high value homes up to $3.5 million (CEA only offers deductibles of 15% or higher for homes valued over $1 million)
• A.M. Best ‘A’ rating for Coastal Select (vs B++ for the CEA)
• Breakables like china and swimming pool coverage available (breakables limited to $500 via CEA vs up to $25,000 for GeoVera)
• Masonry veneer coverage available (not available via CEA) 

Cons

• Chimneys have a maximum $10,000 in coverage (similar to CEA) 
• No condo or mobile home coverage via QuakeSelect
• Homes built prior to 1925 not eligible
• Row houses not eligible
• Aftershocks counted as one event 168 hours after the first quake (versus 300 hours for the CEA)

What’s covered and excluded?

You can view a sample policy document here, and this summary can help you see some of what’s covered and what’s excluded at a glance. Always review specific coverage in detail with a licensed agent before making a decision. The below is not a comprehensive list or binding document. 

Dwelling (your home)

Coverage limit: $100,000 – $3.5 million

Deductible: 2.5% – 25%

GeoVera Quake Select policies cover direct physical loss to your home’s main structure from an earthquake plus…

• Water damage from an earthquake damaging an appliance like a water heater
• Damage to the home from landslides immediately caused by an earthquake
• Debris removal – up to 5% of coverage limit
• Chimneys – maximum $10,000
• Land stabilization / engineering – maximum $10,000
• Pools – maximum $50,000 if ‘Other Structures’ coverage is chosen and the dwelling limit is $500,000 or more; $25,000 if the dwelling limit is less than $500,000. 
• Walkways, driveways, decks, and patios used for entering / exiting the home 
• Retaining walls, piers, bulkheads integral to the dwelling structure
• HOA loss assessments (available up to $50,000 as separate coverage)

What’s excluded…

• Fire damage – even if caused by an earthquake. Standard homeowners coverage handles this.
• Flood damage – even if an earthquake triggers a tsunami. Flood insurance handles this.
• Theft – even if caused by looting. Standard homeowners coverage handles this. 
• Patios not needed to directly access the home
• Landscaping, lawns
• Fences, outdoor fixtures
• Land – except a maximum $10,000 for stabilization / engineering

Personal property (things inside your home)

Coverage limit: Up to 75% of dwelling coverage 

Deductible: Same % as dwelling deductible

Personal belongings in your home are covered, with special limits for these items: 

• Jewelry, watches, stones, precious metals: up to $25,000
• Fine arts including all glassware, china, dishware: up to $25,000

What’s excluded…

• Watercraft and aircraft
• Trailers
• Trees, plants
• Animals
• Property owned by others unless the insured is using it on premises
• Data
• Coin and stamp collections
• Business property
• Motor vehicles

Loss of use (a place to stay while you rebuild)

Coverage limit: Up to 35% of dwelling coverage (optional addon to your policy for an extra premium) 

Deductible: Same % as dwelling deductible

For an extra premium this pays additional living expenses like rent for a temporary home that matches your normal standard of living while you can’t occupy your home because of earthquake damage. 

It also covers lost rent at fair market rental value if your home is a rental property. 

Building code coverage

Coverage limit: $10,000 included, additional up to 10% of dwelling limit

Deductible: Same % as dwelling deductible

This covers extra costs to rebuild your home to comply with upgraded building codes that didn’t exist when it was built. 

Can renters or condo owners get coverage?

GeoVera Quake Select is not available for condo owners or renters. 

What homes are eligible?

• Homes with a homeowners or dwelling fire policy with a $100,000 – $3,500,000 ‘Coverage A’ limit 
• Wood frame or masonry veneer construction
• 1-4 unit family dwellings or townhouses
• One to three stories (garages and basements are counted as a story)
• Homes built 1925 and later

Ineligible homes include…

• Dwellings on Historical Register
• Reinforced concrete, Reinforced or Unreinforced masonry dwellings
• Modular, Mobile, and Pre-fabricated homes
• Adobe and Log homes
• Rowhouses – Row houses are defined as buildings that are separated from an adjacent building by 1 feet or less at any point between the adjacent walls. Row houses do not always share a common wall with an adjacent building.
• Condominiums
• Dwellings under course of construction
• Dwellings undergoing extensive remodeling, renovation or construction affecting habitability
• Dwellings wholly or partially over water
• Dwellings with tuck-under parking defined as parking space open on at least on one side, located at ground level and with living area above.
• Risks with unrepaired prior earthquake damage – All prior earthquake damage must be repaired before the risk will be eligible for coverage. A breakdown of prior damage (amount of loss to the dwelling, other structures, contents, etc.) and proof of repair by a licensed contractor may be required by the Company
• Any premises not used for residential purposes

How much does it cost?

GeoVera Quake Select rates vary based on your location and home’s characteristics like foundation type, framing type, and age. 

The average quake policyholder in California pays $107 a month for about $800,000 in coverage (about $1.57 per $1,000 in coverage) and the most popular deductible is 15% according to our analysis. 

We’ve found GeoVera Quake Select rates competitive with and in some cases lower than CEA rates. 

What discounts are available?

Homes built before 1973 can get a discount with verification that:

(1) The dwelling is properly anchor bolted to the foundation and

(2) Cripple walls if present are braced with plywood or its equivalent; and

(3) The hot water heater is secured to the building frame.

Steel anchor bolts must connect the sill plate (the wood board that lays directly on top of the foundation) to the foundation. Bolts should be placed four to six feet apart.

The presence of cripple walls can be confirmed by looking around the perimeter of the crawl space. If wood studs are visible then the cripple walls have not been braced. Braced cripple walls will be completely covered with plywood.

Written verification of retrofitting addressing the above three is required for the discount. Written verification includes certification of completed work from a licensed building contractor or

inspection from a qualified structural engineer or retrofitting inspection service.

GeoVera Quake Select is a little more lenient than the CEA with this discount, as the CEA requires homes built as late as 1979 to have verification for a discount, and it also requires retrofitting to current building code standards, while GeoVera only requires a more basic standard. 

How are aftershocks handled?

Quakes that happen up to 168 hours after the first damaging quake are considered one event, pulling from the same deductible. Any damage from quakes more than 168 hours after the first with damage will be counted as a new event.

GeoVera can’t cancel your policy before the renewal date due to a quake.

How can you pay your premium?

Auto pay is available as well as monthly payment plans.

Do you have to pay the deductible out of pocket?

No, the deductible is subtracted from the total damage estimate, and you get a check for the total damage less the deductible. 

Can you build elsewhere?

Yes you can build or buy a replacement home elsewhere with insurance settlement funds. 

What is GeoVera’s consumer complaint history?

The California Department of Insurance recorded the following closed complaints regarding GeoVera:

2022: 0

2021: 0

2020: 2

What is GeoVera Quake Select’s financial rating?

Coastal Select, which underwrites GeoVera Coastal Select policies, received an A (Excellent) rating from A.M. Best in 2023. It has been offering insurance in California since 1998. The CEA has a rating of B++.

GeoVera policies are underwritten by an admitted carrier in California. Policies with admitted carriers that go insolvent have protection for up to $1,000,000 in claims from CIGA, the California Insurance Guarantee Association. California Earthquake Authority policies also have the same protection from CIGA in the event the CEA becomes insolvent.

How does it compare to CEA coverage?

GeoVera Quake Select should be in the consideration set for California homeowners looking for earthquake coverage. 

GeoVera offers some more comprehensive coverage options than the CEA, including for masonry veneer, personal belongings and swimming pools. It also offers 2.5% deductibles for coverage as high as $3.5 million while the CEA won’t go below 15% for homes with coverage over $1 million.

GeoVera won’t cover some homes that CEA will like row houses and those built before 1925, or those with replacement value over $3.5 million, but we have found GeoVera Quake Select rates to be competitive and sometimes lower than the CEA for a given home. 

Comparing rate estimates is a good place to start, and our free calculator can give you an instant earthquake insurance estimate which can help your conversation with a licensed agent.