- Standard homeowners excludes earthquake
- Texas seismic activity has genuinely risen
Texas Earthquake Insurance
Texas isn't California. But earthquakes here aren't hypothetical anymore.
Earthquake insurance is a separate policy covering seismic damage that your standard homeowners specifically excludes. Over the last 10 to 15 years, seismic activity in parts of Texas has increased meaningfully, particularly in North Texas and the Permian Basin, tied to injection-induced seismicity from oil and gas operations. Whether the risk fits your property is worth an honest conversation.
- Coverage for a peril your homeowners policy excludes
- Available through specialty and standard carriers
- Percentage-based deductibles explained clearly
- Honest advice on whether it fits your zip code
🌍 Get your earthquake quote
Free, no obligation. Honest advice on whether it fits.
Trusted by Texas homeowners since 1983
Since 1983
Standard & specialty markets
No fear-selling, just facts
Renewals, questions, claims
Starting with the honest part
Earthquake coverage isn't right for every Texas property. But it's a real conversation now for some.
For most of Texas history, earthquake insurance was a coastal-California problem, not a Texas problem. That has changed in specific parts of the state over the last decade. According to the U.S. Geological Survey and multiple peer-reviewed studies, the frequency of felt earthquakes in North Texas and the Permian Basin has risen substantially, driven largely by wastewater injection related to oil and gas operations (a phenomenon known as “injection-induced seismicity”).
That said, most Texas properties are still at low seismic risk. Our job as an independent broker is to tell you honestly whether earthquake coverage is worth the premium at your specific address, not to sell fear. Here’s how we think about the three broad zones.
Where earthquake matters in Texas
Three broad zones, three different conversations.
These are generalizations, not property-specific risk assessments. Your specific address, foundation type, and structure age all factor into whether earthquake coverage makes sense.
- North Texas / Barnett Shale
- Elevated activity
DFW metro & north-central Texas
Injection-induced seismicity has meaningfully raised the frequency of small to moderate earthquakes in this region since the 2010s. Many DFW residents have felt earthquakes in recent years. Damage claims remain relatively uncommon but are no longer unheard of.
DFW metroplex, Fort Worth, Irving, Azle, Arlington, and surrounding communities near active wastewater injection sites.
- West Texas / Permian Basin
- Elevated activity
Odessa, Midland & West Texas
The Permian Basin has seen sharp increases in seismic activity over the past several years, with multiple felt earthquakes and some larger events. This is one of the more actively studied regions for injection-induced seismicity in the country.
Odessa, Midland, Pecos, Reeves County, and surrounding Permian Basin communities.
- Rest of Texas
- Lower baseline
Houston, Austin, San Antonio & most of the state
Most of Texas outside the specific zones above continues to have relatively low historical seismic activity. Earthquake coverage may still be worth considering for some properties (older masonry structures, high-value homes), but the risk-based case is weaker.
Houston metro, Austin, San Antonio, El Paso, Central Texas, most of East and South Texas.
The single most important thing to understand before buying
Earthquake deductibles are calculated as a percentage of the dwelling limit, not a flat dollar amount.
Most earthquake policies carry deductibles ranging from 10% to 20% of the Coverage A dwelling limit, sometimes higher. That means a $400,000 home with a 15% earthquake deductible has a $60,000 deductible before the policy pays anything.
This is very different from a standard homeowners deductible (usually a few thousand dollars). Whether earthquake coverage makes financial sense at your address depends heavily on how you weigh a low-probability, high-severity event against a substantial retained loss on any claim. We walk through that math with every quote so you know exactly what you’d owe before coverage kicks in.
What earthquake insurance covers
The main coverage components.
Earthquake policies follow a familiar structure but with important differences from homeowners coverage.
Dwelling
Structural damage to your home from seismic activity, subject to the percentage deductible. Includes foundation cracks, wall damage, roof damage tied to seismic causes.
Other Structures
Detached structures on your property: detached garage, shed, retaining walls, fences. Typically a smaller portion of the dwelling limit.
Personal Property
Contents damaged in the seismic event: broken items, damaged furniture, electronics knocked off shelves. Subject to sub-limits similar to homeowners.
Loss of Use
Additional living expenses (hotel, meals) if your home is uninhabitable after a covered earthquake event. Sometimes included, sometimes optional.
Common exclusions
Fire following an earthquake (typically covered by homeowners fire coverage instead), damage from land movement not directly seismic, sinkholes, and floods.
Foundation coverage
Foundation repair costs are usually the largest exposure in seismic damage. Understanding sub-limits and settlement rules for foundations matters.
Why work with Aimbest
Earthquake in Texas is a niche market. That's exactly why the broker matters.
Not all Texas carriers offer earthquake coverage, and appetite varies significantly by zip code. As an independent broker, we know which markets to approach for your area, and we don’t sell fear about a risk that may not fit your specific address. Honest advice is the whole point.
Standard and specialty carriers who write Texas earthquake coverage.
Advice grounded in USGS and public seismic data, not selling pressure.
Renewals, coverage adjustments, and any future claims all in one place.
"We felt three small earthquakes in one week near Odessa and started asking questions. Aimbest didn't sell us fear, they walked through the deductible math honestly and helped us make an informed decision."
How it works
From quote request to informed decision, four steps.
Share your property details. A Texas advisor reaches out to talk through your area’s activity level.
Standard and specialty carriers who write earthquake coverage for your zip code and property type.
Coverage limits, percentage deductible, and premium all in plain language. We walk through the retained-loss math.
Some property owners bind coverage, others decide against it based on the math. Either is a legitimate answer.
Common questions
Earthquake insurance in Texas, answered.
Why isn't earthquake covered by my regular homeowners policy?
Standard homeowners policies (in Texas and nationally) specifically exclude earth movement, including earthquakes. This is a standard exclusion in the policy form. The reasoning is that earthquake risk concentrates severe losses in specific geographies and time windows, which is difficult to spread across a typical homeowners insurance pool. Earthquake coverage is available as a separate policy or endorsement priced specifically for the seismic risk.
Are Texas earthquakes really something to worry about?
In most of Texas, seismic activity remains low and earthquake coverage is a relatively low-priority consideration. In specific regions (particularly parts of North Texas near the Barnett Shale and much of the Permian Basin in West Texas), the U.S. Geological Survey has documented substantial increases in earthquake frequency over the past 10-15 years, largely attributed to injection-induced seismicity from wastewater disposal related to oil and gas operations. Whether the risk warrants coverage at your specific address depends on your zip code, your property type, and how you weigh the deductible math. We give honest advice either way.
Why are earthquake deductibles so high?
Earthquake risk is unusual in that it’s characterized by low probability and potentially very high severity, with damage concentrated across many properties simultaneously in an event. Percentage-based deductibles (typically 10-20% of the dwelling limit) shift a meaningful portion of the risk to the property owner and keep the underlying premium at a level where the market can offer coverage at all. Understanding and being comfortable with the deductible is essential before buying.
Does earthquake coverage include fire caused by an earthquake?
Fire following an earthquake is typically covered by your standard homeowners fire coverage rather than the earthquake policy. That’s an important distinction because in some historical events, fire has caused more damage than the earthquake itself. Most Texas homeowners are covered for post-earthquake fire under their existing homeowners policy, though it’s always worth confirming.
Does earthquake coverage include land movement like sinkholes?
Earthquake policies cover seismic events, not necessarily every form of ground movement. Sinkholes, subsidence, and other slow ground movement are typically excluded from both homeowners and earthquake policies, though limited coverage may be available separately in some markets. Foundation heave from expansive clay soils (a common Texas issue) is generally not covered by either type of policy. We help identify whether your specific concern is really seismic or something else.
How much does earthquake insurance cost in Texas?
Premium varies significantly by location, property type, construction, and coverage limits. In lower-activity parts of Texas, earthquake premium can be quite modest. In elevated-activity zones (parts of North Texas and the Permian Basin), premium is meaningfully higher and deductibles tend to be higher too. There’s no way to give a meaningful price range without a specific quote, which is why we always start from your address rather than a generic estimate.
Related coverage
What pairs with earthquake coverage.
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Get honest earthquake advice for your Texas address.
Free quote, no pressure. We’ll tell you honestly if the math makes sense for your zip code, or if it doesn’t.