Can Older Homes Get Earthquake Insurance, or Are They Excluded?
An older home often has character that a newer build can’t replicate, but when it comes to earthquake insurance, that same age can raise structural questions an underwriter wants answered before offering a policy.
The short answer
Older homes are generally not automatically excluded from earthquake insurance, but age can trigger closer underwriting scrutiny, particular questions about foundation type and retrofit status, and sometimes higher pricing or specific conditions tied to the policy. The concern isn’t age itself so much as what age often correlates with — construction practices, foundation types, and materials that were common when the home was built and haven’t always aged well structurally. Homes with unreinforced masonry construction tend to face the most restrictive underwriting of all.
Why age matters to an underwriter
A home’s age is often used as a rough marker for which building codes and common construction practices were in effect at the time it was built, since standards addressing seismic performance have evolved considerably. An underwriter isn’t penalizing a home for being old in the abstract; they’re using age as one signal among several for what affects earthquake insurance cost, alongside more specific details like foundation type and construction material.
Common underwriting concerns
- Unreinforced masonry. Brick or block construction without steel reinforcement is widely considered one of the higher-risk categories for earthquake performance, and some insurers apply particular restrictions or exclusions to it.
- Unbolted or unbraced foundations. Homes built before anchoring became standard practice may lack the connection between frame and foundation that helps prevent catastrophic failure.
- Deteriorated foundations. Age-related wear, cracking, or settling in an older foundation can raise separate concerns beyond the original construction method.
Retrofit requirements insurers may request
Rather than declining an older home outright, an insurer may instead offer coverage on the condition that specific retrofit work is completed, such as foundation bolting or cripple wall bracing, within a defined period after the policy begins. This approach lets a homeowner keep an older property insured while addressing the structural issues that concerned the underwriter in the first place, though the specific conditions and timelines vary by insurer.
What an older home might still get
Coverage terms for an older home can differ from a newer one in several ways beyond price, including higher deductibles, sublimits on certain types of damage, or a lower personal property coverage percentage. Reviewing how much personal property coverage typically comes with an earthquake policy is a useful comparison point for anyone evaluating whether an older home’s specific policy terms feel adequate.
A practical habit
Getting a straight answer from more than one insurer is often the most useful step for an older home, since underwriting appetite and specific requirements vary considerably from one company to the next. Knowing a home’s foundation type and any past retrofit work before requesting quotes tends to speed up that process and gives a clearer picture of where the home actually stands. Keeping copies of any past structural work, inspection reports, or permits on hand also makes it easier to answer underwriting questions quickly rather than starting the documentation search from scratch after a quote request stalls.