Why is mobile home insurance more expensive?

Mobile home insurance is typically more expensive than a standard home insurance policy because of the increase in risk that comes with having a mobile home. A mobile home is less likely to withstand hazards, such as hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and fires. Mobile homes are also at a higher risk for theft and vandalism. Because of these increased risks, and because they do not have the same structural foundation as a permanent home, mobile home insurance premiums are typically higher.

Will my homeowners insurance policy cover my mobile home?

Standard homeowners insurance policies do not cover manufactured homes, and the cost of a homeowners insurance policy is also different. However, you may be able to add mobile home insurance to your homeowners insurance policy if you own both dwelling types, depending on your insurance provider. Mobile home insurance is considered a specialty insurance product. If you have an existing standard home insurance policy or auto insurance policy and need to insure a mobile home, contact your agent or insurer to ask about bundling discounts.

Do I need a mobile home insurance policy for my modular home?

Mobile homes and modular homes are similar in that they are both produced in a factory. Whereas mobile homes have the ability to move, modular homes are usually built off-site but are ultimately fixed in place. Therefore a modular home is held to the same local and state building codes as on-site traditional homes. Mobile home insurance can cover both types of homes, and you’ll typically be able to adjust the coverage and limits to what suits your needs.

How can I save money on my mobile home insurance policy?

To save money on your mobile home insurance policy, you can look for discounts offered by your insurance provider. These could help in lowering your final premium. It’s also possible to review your coverage types and limits to see if you may be over-insured, but keep in mind that reducing your coverage could result in less protection during a loss. You could adjust your deductible to a higher amount to possibly help lower your premiums, although you should make sure this is an amount you could comfortably pay out of pocket in the event you need to file a claim.

How much insurance coverage do I need for a mobile home?

When deciding how much insurance coverage you need for a mobile home, consider how much you would be able to afford to pay out of pocket if major damage occurred. Experts recommend purchasing coverage beyond that amount to ensure that a disaster does not cause you financial hardship on top of damaging the property.

How do you get insurance for a mobile home?

Many national insurance providers offer mobile home insurance, and you may find regional insurance providers that specialize in insurance for manufactured homes in regions where they are more common. Some insurers also partner with third-party companies to offer insurance coverage on mobile homes, so you may be able to bundle insurance plans through your existing insurance provider.

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Mobile home insurance

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Updated Sep 12, 2023

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At Bankrate, we strive to help you make smarter financial decisions. To help readers understand how insurance affects their finances, we have licensed insurance professionals on staff who have spent a combined 47 years in the auto, home and life insurance industries. While we adhere to strict , this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here's an explanation of . Our content is backed by Coverage.com, LLC, a licensed entity (NPN: 19966249). For more information, please see our .

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Just like homeowners might want to consider a home insurance policy to protect their finances if their home is damaged or destroyed, mobile homeowners might also want to consider a mobile home insurance policy in case their mobile home or personal belongings are damaged by a covered peril. Standard home insurance typically won’t cover a mobile home, so understanding how mobile home insurance works might help protect your finances if you own this type of home. Bankrate’s insurance editorial team explains the ins and outs of mobile home insurance so you can be prepared.

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What is mobile home insurance?

Mobile home insurance, or manufactured home insurance, is a type of insurance that covers any dwelling that falls under the manufactured home definition. These homes always have a HUD label and are typically built on a metal frame and delivered as a completed unit. Insurance for mobile homes may cover repairs to the structure of your home and/or replacement of the utilities that came with your home.

Mobile home insurance is considered the equivalent of homeowner’s insurance for owners of manufactured homes. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average price of a new mobile home was $125,200 in 2022, while the median sale price of a new house was $400,600. While manufactured homes are typically much cheaper to buy, it’s still important to have mobile home insurance coverage to protect your investment and family’s finances. After all, many people don’t have $125,000-plus in disposable income to replace their home in the event it is destroyed.

What does mobile home insurance cover?

Mobile home insurance provides coverage for the following essentials:

Dwelling coverage: This coverage is for the dwelling and other permanent structures on the property. In other words, any damage done to your home or other structures on the property (like a deck, garage or shed) that are listed in your policy is covered under your dwelling coverage.
Personal property coverage: This coverage is for your personal belongings. If the items you own are damaged or stolen, your policy covers you.
Liability coverage: This coverage is to protect you in the event someone is injured on your property and you are held liable. Liability protection may cover legal fees and medical costs up to your coverage limit.
Loss of use/additional living expenses (ALE): You may need to live somewhere else temporarily while your mobile home is repaired, and this coverage can help cover your temporary relocation costs. ALE may cover hotel costs, rental of a temporary home and restaurant meals after damage from a covered peril.

Some manufactured homeowners opt to purchase peril policies, a type of mobile home insurance with low premiums but high risk. Peril policies cover very limited causes of damage, meaning you will be responsible for any costs not resulting from one of the listed perils. If you’re looking into a peril policy, it is best to understand the full scope of what is and isn’t covered, and ensure you can afford the full cost of repairs that are not covered.

What does mobile home insurance not cover?

Standard mobile home insurance policies have several exclusions. Some of these require add-ons or separate policies for coverage and may or may not be needed depending on your geographic location:

Mobile home insurance companies

Although homeowners insurance and mobile home insurance share some similarities, not all property insurance companies offer mobile home insurance in all states. Still, if you have a standard homeowners insurance policy or auto coverage, the best place to start is by contacting your insurer or agent to see if you can bundle policies to earn a discount.

Not all mobile home insurance providers are the same. The best mobile home insurance company for you will depend on several factors, such as your geographic region and the type of coverage you need. Some national insurers, such as USAA and Geico, partner with third-party mobile home insurers to offer more specific coverage. You may also find local insurers if you are looking for coverage in a certain location, such as mobile home insurance in Florida.

These are a few of the most popular mobile home insurers in the U.S.:

Allstate: Allstate is a national carrier that offers standard mobile home coverage options such as dwelling coverage, personal property protection and other structures coverage. It also offers some unique optional coverage features like water backup and identity theft restoration.
American Modern: American Modern offers mobile home insurance for different use types such as rental and seasonal homes. Coverage highlights include comprehensive protection, stated value loss settlement, liability and personal property. American Modern offers multiple options for potential policyholders to adjust their policies based on their needs.
Assurant: Assurant’s user-friendly quoting tools are available online for a quick quote. With Assurant, there is also the option for a stated value loss settlement.
Farmers: Farmers is a national property insurer that provides mobile home insurance coverage. Though you cannot get a quote online, which may be an inconvenience, Farmers has a wide variety of additional coverage options that many insurers do not offer.
Foremost: A super-regional subsidiary of Farmers, Foremost is known for exceptional customer service and minimal customer complaints. You can request a quote over the phone or on the company website, but note that quotes are not instant. Among Foremost’s options is extended replacement cost coverage.
HomeFirst: With over 20 years of experience insuring manufactured homes, HomeFirst might be a great choice when it comes to the specialized insurance needs of owners of prefabricated homes. Its policies include flood coverage, which is rare. You can request a quote via the company website, and an agent will follow up with you.

Similar to how you would shop for home and auto insurance, the best way to find the most affordable mobile home insurance with the best coverage is by shopping around and obtaining quotes from insurers that specialize in writing mobile home policies. Triple-I recommends gathering a minimum of three quotes to compare coverage options and costs.

Is mobile home insurance required?

Mobile home insurance is not required by law, but lenders may require it as a condition of the loan. Some mobile home parks have requirements for insurance coverage, as well.

How much is mobile home insurance?

Since mobile home insurance is less common than a standard homeowners insurance, you may be wondering how much the average policy costs. The answer depends on several factors, such as your insurance company, your location, the type of mobile home and more. Each insurance company has its own way of underwriting policies, but most will calculate rates based on risk.

Mobile home insurance policies often cost more than standard homeowners insurance policies due to the higher risks associated with manufactured homes. While the average cost of mobile home insurance nationwide is not available, the best way to estimate how much you’ll pay is by shopping around and comparing coverage options and quotes.

Some of the things that may impact your cost of coverage include:

The area you live in
Weather risks, including hurricanes, tornadoes and floods
Wildfire risks
The crime rate in your neighborhood
Proximity of first responders, such as police and fire departments
Value, age and condition of your mobile or manufactured home
Policy limits for basic coverage: dwelling, liability and contents
Additional coverage types, such as flood, earthquake and windstorm
Deductible levels

How to save money on a mobile home insurance policy

Regardless of your mobile home insurance rates, there are several ways to potentially earn discounts on your mobile home insurance. Some of these discounts are straightforward and can be applied to lower your annual premium. Common discounts include:

Being the original titleholder of the mobile home
Bundling your mobile home insurance with other policies through the same insurer
Installing a home security system
Retirement and/or senior discounts

What is the difference between mobile home insurance and standard home insurance?

Mobile home insurance is different from standard homeowners insurance coverage because of the major structural differences between the dwellings being covered. While a traditional home is attached to a foundation, mobile homes do not have the same structural foundation. Although mobility can be convenient, it comes with a few more inherent risks due to the lack of a foundation, which makes it easier for a mobile home to be impacted by natural disasters and be prone to other hazards.

For instance, fires, wind and broken pipes pose a bigger threat to a mobile or manufactured home than to a traditional home. Mobile homes are also more likely to be targeted for theft. On the other hand, the total value of a mobile home is usually lower than a stick-built home. Regardless, since they carry such distinct risks, insurers prefer to group mobile homes into their own type of policy.

Frequently asked questions

Mobile home insurance is typically more expensive than a standard home insurance policy because of the increase in risk that comes with having a mobile home. A mobile home is less likely to withstand hazards, such as hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and fires. Mobile homes are also at a higher risk for theft and vandalism. Because of these increased risks, and because they do not have the same structural foundation as a permanent home, mobile home insurance premiums are typically higher.
Standard homeowners insurance policies do not cover manufactured homes, and the cost of a homeowners insurance policy is also different. However, you may be able to add mobile home insurance to your homeowners insurance policy if you own both dwelling types, depending on your insurance provider. Mobile home insurance is considered a specialty insurance product. If you have an existing standard home insurance policy or auto insurance policy and need to insure a mobile home, contact your agent or insurer to ask about bundling discounts.
Mobile homes and modular homes are similar in that they are both produced in a factory. Whereas mobile homes have the ability to move, modular homes are usually built off-site but are ultimately fixed in place. Therefore a modular home is held to the same local and state building codes as on-site traditional homes. Mobile home insurance can cover both types of homes, and you’ll typically be able to adjust the coverage and limits to what suits your needs.
To save money on your mobile home insurance policy, you can look for discounts offered by your insurance provider. These could help in lowering your final premium. It’s also possible to review your coverage types and limits to see if you may be over-insured, but keep in mind that reducing your coverage could result in less protection during a loss. You could adjust your deductible to a higher amount to possibly help lower your premiums, although you should make sure this is an amount you could comfortably pay out of pocket in the event you need to file a claim.
When deciding how much insurance coverage you need for a mobile home, consider how much you would be able to afford to pay out of pocket if major damage occurred. Experts recommend purchasing coverage beyond that amount to ensure that a disaster does not cause you financial hardship on top of damaging the property.
Many national insurance providers offer mobile home insurance, and you may find regional insurance providers that specialize in insurance for manufactured homes in regions where they are more common. Some insurers also partner with third-party companies to offer insurance coverage on mobile homes, so you may be able to bundle insurance plans through your existing insurance provider.

Written by

Grace Kim

Insurance Contributor