The Complete Guide to Manufactured and Mobile Home Insurance
![[Back to top]](https://www.nerdwallet.com/assets/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/iStock_35986834_LARGE-770x462.jpg)
Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money.
Mobile home insurance covers your stuff, the structure of your home and legal damages if you harm others.
Manufactured and mobile homes typically need a different type of insurance than site-built homes.
Companies offering mobile home insurance include American Modern, Foremost and State Farm.
Due to their unique construction and vulnerability to certain weather, such as windstorms, manufactured and mobile homes typically don’t qualify for traditional homeowners insurance. Instead, you need to look into mobile home insurance.
Mobile, manufactured and modular homes: What's the difference?
Mobile, manufactured and modular homes have one thing in common: They're built in factories rather than on construction sites. However, they also have some key differences.
For instance, modular homes sit on a foundation similar to traditional houses, unlike mobile and manufactured homes, which both rest on movable chassis. Further, modular homes are subject to the same state and local building codes as traditional houses, while mobile and manufactured homes must meet federal building standards.
The insurance policies may be different, too. Some companies use standard homeowners policies for modular homes rather than manufactured home insurance.
Meanwhile, though the terms are often used interchangeably, "mobile" and "manufactured" homes have specific meanings according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Mobile homes were built prior to 1976, when a new federal law mandated stricter safety standards for their construction. From that point on, these buildings were known as manufactured homes.
What mobile home insurance covers
A standard mobile home insurance policy generally features the following coverage.
Dwelling coverage
Dwelling coverage pays to repair or replace the structure of your mobile home if it’s damaged by events your policy covers, up to a limit you choose. (A deductible may apply.) Manufactured home policies generally cover events such as:
Fire and lightning.
Explosions.
Vandalism.
Falling objects.
Wind and hail.
Weight of ice and snow.
Damage from wild or stray animals.
Burst pipes.
When selecting a limit for this part of your policy, you want an amount high enough to replace your mobile home if it’s destroyed. Consider buying extended replacement coverage, which will give you a cushion in case rebuilding costs more than you expect.
Other structures coverage
Other structures coverage pays to repair a fence, shed or other structure that isn’t attached to your home if it’s damaged by an event your policy covers.
Personal property coverage
Personal property coverage pays to repair or replace furniture, electronics and other belongings if they’re damaged or stolen.
A standard mobile home policy will typically cover your items on an “actual cash value” basis. That means it’ll pay the estimated amount your belongings were worth at the time of the claim, minus your deductible. To receive enough to buy brand-new items, you may want to upgrade to replacement cost coverage.
Taking a home inventory is the best way to figure out what your stuff is worth and how much personal property coverage you need. You can get a quick estimate using the calculator below.
Liability insurance
Personal liability insurance pays if a visitor is hurt and sues you, or you accidentally cause property damage or injuries to others. It may also cover related legal expenses.
Not sure how much liability insurance you need? Consider getting at least enough to cover your net worth.
Additional coverage
Depending on your insurance company, your policy may include other coverage, such as:
Additional living expenses to reimburse the cost of a hotel in case a fire or storm makes your home temporarily unlivable.
Trip collision coverage to repair your mobile home if it’s damaged while moving between locations.
» MORE: What does home insurance cover?
What’s not covered
As with any insurance policy, there are limits to your coverage:
Flooding. Manufactured home insurance generally doesn't pay for flood damage. If you live in an at-risk area, buying separate flood insurance is a good idea.
Earthquakes. Similarly, if your home is in a seismically active region, you’ll likely need separate earthquake coverage. Home insurance policies typically don't cover “earth movement."
Wear and tear. Insurance covers sudden, accidental damage, not everyday maintenance.
Insect or animal infestation. Insurers consider pest prevention part of ordinary maintenance.
Damage associated with the use of your home for business purposes. For this coverage, you may need a commercial policy.
How much is mobile home insurance?
The average cost of mobile home insurance is typically between $750 and $1,500 per year, according to American Modern Insurance Group. Foremost, another manufactured home insurer, puts the average cost at about $1,000 per year.
A slew of factors can affect your specific rates, including:
Where you live.
The age of your home.
The cost to replace your home.
The limits and coverage options you select.
Your deductible.
Your claims history.
Many companies offer discounts on mobile home insurance. For example, you may get a bundling discount for buying mobile home insurance along with another policy such as auto insurance.
Many insurers also offer discounts for having a home security system, smoke alarms or other protective devices.
» MORE: Cost of homeownership calculator
Manufactured and mobile home insurance companies
Not all insurers offer mobile home insurance, but the following providers do, either directly or through a third-party affiliate. An independent agent may be able to help you find other options in your area.
Allstate
Allstate offers standard coverage for your manufactured home and belongings, plus numerous ways to customize your policy. For example, extra coverage is available for valuables, sports equipment or trees and shrubs. You can save up to 5% on your annual premium if you’re the original owner of your home. Those who are over age 55 and retired can get a discount up to 10%.
American Family
Add “diminishing deductible” coverage to an American Family mobile home policy, and your chosen deductible will immediately go down by $100. It’ll continue to drop by another $100 each year you don't make a claim, up to $500. Other add-ons pay for damage from hidden water leaks or collisions while your manufactured home is in transit.
American Modern
American Modern has focused on mobile homes since its founding in 1949. The company offers optional coverage for expenses due to the breakdown of an HVAC system, major appliances or electronics. You can also get identity theft assistance or trip collision coverage.
Farmers
Options to customize a Farmers manufactured home policy include coverage for earthquakes, identity theft or water damage from backed-up sewers or drains. The company offers a bundling discount if you combine your mobile home policy with another Farmers policy such as auto, life or umbrella insurance.
Foremost
Now a subsidiary of Farmers, Foremost was originally founded to insure mobile homes. It offers coverage options such as identity fraud management, trip coverage while moving your home, earthquake coverage and insurance for valuables. If you’re an AARP member looking for mobile home insurance, Foremost is the third-party company that will provide it through the membership.
Geico
Geico doesn’t issue mobile or manufactured home policies itself but instead partners with third parties such as Assurant, Foremost and American Modern. If you need to file a claim or change your coverage, you’ll need to work with the partner directly, not Geico. You can add extra coverage for jewelry, sports equipment or musical instruments to a standard policy.
Progressive
Like Geico, Progressive works with third parties to offer mobile home insurance in most states. That means you’ll likely need to contact the third party to change your policy or file a claim. Replacement cost coverage is an optional add-on that ensures you can buy a brand-new mobile home if yours is destroyed. You can also add trip collision coverage to pay for damage during a move.
State Farm
State Farm offers several ways to save on your manufactured home insurance, including discounts for protective devices such as burglar and smoke alarms. You may also be able to save depending on how long you’ve been insured with State Farm or the age of your manufactured home. Add-on options include identity theft coverage and replacement cost coverage for your home and belongings so you can get brand-new stuff if yours is destroyed.
USAA
USAA — which primarily serves active military, veterans and their families — partners with Foremost to offer coverage for mobile, manufactured and tiny homes. People with modular homes should apply for a standard USAA homeowners policy.
Because rates vary among mobile home insurance companies, make sure to compare several quotes to get the most competitive price.
