Earthquake insurance underwriting questions
Understanding what underwriters care about helps you prepare a stronger application. Each underwriting question maps to a specific risk factor that carriers price or may exclude. The more clearly and completely these questions are answered, the faster the broker can obtain accurate terms from the market.
What the Best Earthquake wizard captures
The application documents all the details underwriters look for. Gathering the following before applying produces a stronger submission and faster broker review:
- County and specific address: for hazard tier and fault proximity
- Year built: pre-1980 triggers additional foundation and retrofit review
- Construction type: wood frame, masonry veneer, brick, concrete
- Foundation type: slab, raised, stem wall, post-and-pier, basement
- Retrofit: bolted to foundation? Cripple walls braced? Year and permit documentation?
- Masonry chimney: present? Reinforced or removed? Unreinforced masonry anywhere?
- Hillside, slope, fill, or unusual soil: yes, no, or unknown
- Prior damage: earthquake, earth movement, foundation, structural claims in last 5 years
From indication to bindable options
The Best Earthquake Insurance application gives a preliminary annual range anchored to CDI data, then submits a completed Covwell application to Bollinsure for broker review. A licensed California broker reviews your construction, retrofit, and loss details and shops multiple carrier markets to find the best available terms.
The indication is not a bindable quote — final coverage is subject to underwriting, carrier eligibility, and policy terms. But starting with a strong, complete application gives the broker the best possible foundation for market submission.
Ready to submit?
The 5-step application wizard takes approximately 5–8 minutes to complete. It walks through property and applicant details, coverage terms and deductible selection, construction and foundation type, retrofit and loss history, and a review-and-sign step where you can preview the completed PDF before submitting.
Your completed application is reviewed by a licensed broker who follows up — often the same business day — with market options and next steps.