South Carolina Earthquake Insurance
Get a full analysis of South Carolina earthquake insurance costs, coverage, and companies.
Written by
Ann Herro has been writing about insurance and employee benefits for over 15 years. She has covered topics as easy as insuring a car, and as difficult as transparency in healthcare costs.
Find the Best Earthquake Insurance Options in South Carolina
You might not be aware, even as a South Carolina resident, that earthquakes are somewhat common here. In fact, approximately 10 to 15 earthquakes are recorded annually in the state, with 3 to 5 of them large enough to be felt by people nearby.
Even small earthquakes can cause damage to your home or car. Is this damage covered by your existing South Carolina home insurance or car insurance? It depends.
Here, we will share more about earthquake insurance in South Carolina and how it can protect you. And for the best information about and quotes for South Carolina earthquake insurance, contact a local independent insurance agent.
Best Earthquake Insurance Companies in South Carolina
There are a lot of options for earthquake insurance in South Carolina. We recommend the following as some of the best earthquake insurance companies in South Carolina.
- Nationwide: Nationwide provides earthquake insurance and other popular types of personal insurance coverage in South Carolina. The company is headquartered in Columbus, OH, and is represented by independent insurance agents in 50 states.
- Encova Insurance: Encova Insurance was founded in 2017, and today, it is ranked as one of the top 20 mutual insurance companies in the U.S. The company offers personal and commercial insurance options, including earthquake insurance, in 28 states, including South Carolina.
- Central Insurance Companies: Central Insurance Companies is a well-established carrier with more than a century of history in the insurance industry. It provides a wide range of coverage options, including earthquake insurance, in 24 states.
- REInsurePro: This carrier offers several important forms of property insurance, including coverage for single- and multi-family homes, vacation rentals, renovations in progress, vacant land, and more.
An independent insurance agent in your area can help you learn more about these and other South Carolina earthquake insurance companies. A local agent can help you get competitive quotes for the coverage that fits your needs.
Is Earthquake Insurance Required in South Carolina?
Although earthquake insurance is not required in South Carolina, there are many reasons to consider it.
It's important to know that earthquakes in South Carolina are not covered under standard homeowners insurance policies. At the same time, earthquakes have the potential to cause catastrophic damage to your South Carolina home. The entire state has a moderate to high risk for earthquakes.
If you don't have earthquake coverage, you'll have to pay for any resulting damage on your own. Earthquake insurance is available from private insurance companies in the form of an endorsement to your homeowners or renters insurance or as a separate policy.
Your independent insurance agent can help you learn more about the need for earthquake insurance in South Carolina.
What Does Earthquake Insurance Cover in South Carolina?
Earthquake insurance in South Carolina typically covers direct damage to the property resulting from the shaking of an earthquake. Indirect damage, like fire and water damage from burst water and gas pipes, is covered under homeowners insurance.
Earthquake insurance can usually be tailored to meet your needs, with typical coverage including:
- Dwelling and other structures coverage: Covers repairs to your home and other structures such as driveways, walkways, retaining walls, swimming pools, etc.
- Personal property coverage: Covers repairing or replacing personal belongings such as clothing and furniture
- Loss of use coverage: Covers certain additional living expenses when your home is uninhabitable
Earthquake insurance typically does not cover:
- Fires caused by earthquakes (this is typically covered by your home insurance)
- Vehicle damage (this can be covered by the comprehensive coverage in your car insurance policy, if you have it)
- Flood damage (can only be covered by flood insurance)
- Sinkholes (you can add this coverage if you need it)
A local independent insurance agent can help you understand what is and is not covered by your South Carolina earthquake insurance.
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What Does Earthquake Insurance Cost in South Carolina?
The cost of earthquake insurance in South Carolina can vary widely depending on where your home is located, your insurance carrier, and the type and age of the structure that you are covering.
For example, older buildings tend to cost more to insure than new ones, while wood frame structures are generally less costly to insure than brick buildings because they tend to withstand quake stresses better.
Remember that earthquake insurance has a percentage deductible rather than a flat dollar figure. An earthquake insurance deductible is often between 2% and 20% of the replacement value of the structure. Choosing a higher deductible can help you save on your South Carolina earthquake insurance premiums.
A local independent insurance agent can help you find South Carolina earthquake insurance that fits your budget.
How to Find the Best Earthquake Insurance Quotes in South Carolina
Find an independent insurance agent now and get one-on-one consultation and affordable options for the best earthquake insurance for your South Carolina home. Your agent will work with you free of charge, offering you a variety of options so you can make the best choice.
What’s more, your agent will be there for you when claim time comes. They know the ins and outs of the process and will make sure your claim is handled appropriately.
Save on Earthquake Insurance
Our independent agents shop around to find you the best coverage.
South Carolina Earthquake Insurance FAQs
It's important to consider having earthquake insurance in South Carolina. Earthquakes are not covered under standard homeowners insurance. At the same time, earthquakes have the potential to cause catastrophic damage to your South Carolina home.
If you don't have earthquake coverage, you'll have to pay for any resulting damage on your own.
No, earthquake insurance is not required in South Carolina.
Earthquake insurance in South Carolina typically covers direct damage to the property resulting from the shaking of an earthquake. Indirect damage, like fire and water damage from burst water and gas pipes, is covered under homeowners insurance.
Earthquake insurance can usually be tailored to meet your needs, with typical coverage including:
- Dwelling and other structures coverage: Covers repairs to your home and other structures such as driveways, walkways, retaining walls, swimming pools, etc.
- Personal property coverage: Covers repairing or replacing personal belongings such as clothing and furniture
- Loss of use coverage: Covers certain additional living expenses when your home is uninhabitable
The cost of earthquake insurance in South Carolina can vary widely depending on where your home is located, your insurance carrier, and the type and age of the structure that you are covering.
For example, older buildings tend to cost more to insure than new ones, while wood frame structures are generally less costly to insure than brick buildings because they tend to withstand quake stresses better.
Nationwide, Encova Insurance, Central Insurance Companies, and REInsurePro are among the best earthquake insurance companies in South Carolina. They are highly rated for offering broad coverage, top-notch customer service, and a variety of affordable options.
There is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all earthquake insurance policy. Comparison shopping is the best way to make sure you're getting the best coverage for your needs.
A local independent insurance agent can help you find a competitively priced South Carolina earthquake insurance policy that meets your state’s coverage requirements. Contact an agent in your area to begin comparing customized quotes.
https://scemd.org/prepare/types-of-disasters/earthquakes/
https://doi.sc.gov/DocumentCenter/View/13678/Earthquake-Coverage-2022-