What is Trella Insurance?

Trella Insurance is an independent insurance brokerage based in Bellevue, Washington. We serve high-asset households and real estate investors by conducting comprehensive risk reviews and designing personal lines coverage — home, auto, umbrella, and rental property.

How does an independent insurance broker differ from a captive agent?

A captive agent works for one insurance company and can only offer that company's products. An independent broker like Trella Insurance works with multiple carriers and shops the market on your behalf to find coverage that fits your actual situation — not just what one insurer sells.

What does a risk review cost?

Trella Insurance's initial risk review is complimentary. There is no charge for us to audit your current policies, identify coverage gaps or redundancies, and present our findings.

What types of insurance does Trella Insurance offer?

Trella Insurance offers personal lines insurance (home, dwelling, contents, liability, loss of use), auto insurance for daily drivers and collector vehicles, umbrella liability policies, and landlord coverage for rental properties.

What is an umbrella insurance policy and how much do I need?

An umbrella policy provides liability coverage beyond the limits of your home, auto, or commercial policies — it activates when a claim exceeds your underlying policy limit. Most high-asset households and property owners need significantly more umbrella coverage than a standard $1 million policy provides, especially if they own rental properties or operate a business.

Does Trella Insurance work with business owners?

Yes. Business owners often have more complex personal insurance needs — higher-value homes, rental properties, and greater liability exposure. Trella focuses on personal lines: home, umbrella, auto, and rental property. Commercial lines are coming soon.

What areas does Trella Insurance serve?

Trella Insurance is based in Bellevue, WA and licensed in Washington, WAOIC #1356476. We are expanding state licensing to serve clients nationally.

How does Trella Insurance get paid?

Like most independent brokers, Trella Insurance is compensated through commissions paid by the insurance carriers when a policy is placed. The initial risk review and brokerage service carry no direct fee to clients.

What is replacement cost coverage and why does it matter?

Replacement cost coverage pays to rebuild or replace your property at current construction costs, regardless of depreciation. Actual cash value coverage — common in standard policies — pays only the depreciated value, which is often far less than what it actually costs to rebuild. Many homeowners discover this gap only after a significant loss.

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Specialty CoverageJanuary 5, 2025

How Much Earthquake Insurance Costs in Washington

Earthquake insurance pricing in Washington varies a lot by home, but the factors are predictable. Here's what shapes the cost and roughly what to expect.

What drives the premium

Construction type. Wood-frame homes (most WA houses) generally fare better in quakes and price more favorably than masonry/brick.
Age and retrofitting. Older homes, especially un-retrofitted ones, cost more; seismic retrofits (bolting the home to its foundation) can lower premiums.
Location and soil. Proximity to fault lines and soil type matter.
Dwelling value and the deductible you choose.

The deductible factor

Earthquake deductibles are a percentage of the dwelling limit — typically 10–20%. A higher deductible lowers your premium but raises your out-of-pocket in a claim. On a $1M home, a 15% deductible means $150,000 before coverage pays.

Rough expectations

Premiums range widely — from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars a year — depending on the factors above. The most reliable way to know is to get quotes; an independent broker can compare carriers and structures.

Frequently asked questions

How much does earthquake insurance cost in Washington? It varies widely by construction, age, location, dwelling value, and deductible — from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars a year. Quotes are the only reliable measure.

Can I lower my earthquake premium? Yes — a seismic retrofit, a higher deductible, and wood-frame construction all reduce cost.

How does the earthquake deductible work? It's a percentage of your dwelling limit (often 10–20%), so you cover that amount before the policy pays — choose it based on your risk tolerance.

More in this series: Flood Insurance in Washington: When You Need It · Water Damage vs Flood: What Homeowners Covers

Catastrophe coverage depends heavily on where and what you own, so High-Value Home Insurance in Snoqualmie Ridge and Guaranteed Replacement Cost, Explained go hand in hand with this.

Trella Insurance is an independent brokerage in Bellevue, WA. Request a free review or try the coverage gap calculator.

← Previous"Flood Insurance in Washington: When You Need It"Next →Is Earthquake Insurance Worth It in Seattle?

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