Mobile home insurance: companies, costs and other considerations

Best mobile home insurance companies

Finding the right mobile home insurance is a little different than finding standard homeowners insurance, even though they have similarities. Many property insurance companies don’t offer mobile home coverage in all states. If you are searching for options, start by talking to your current insurance agent to see if you can bundle policies at a discounted rate. 

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 optional added coverage like water backup and identity theft restoration.
• American Modern: American Modern offers mobile home insurance for different use types (e.g., rental, vacant and seasonal homes) and basic coverage for mobile homeowners. 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 provides manufactured home coverage with a variety of options. Its policies can cover both new and used manufactured homes. The company also offers options for transportation coverage and a number of liabilities. Using Assurant's online quoting tools, you can quickly get a quote for mobile home insurance. 
• 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. Like Assurant, HomeFirst does not underwrite its own policies, but partners with several other banking and insurance companies for policy underwriting.

Just as you would when shopping for 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. Most insurance professionals recommend gathering a minimum of three quotes to compare coverage options and costs.

What does mobile home insurance cover?

Mobile home insurance is home insurance for owners of manufactured homes and 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: Covers the personal items you own if they are damaged or stolen.
• Liability coverage: This coverage protects 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 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.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average price of a new manufactured home was $124,300 in 2023 — the latest year for which data is available — while the average sale price of a new house was $501,100. Although 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 $120K-plus in disposable income to replace their home in the event it is destroyed.

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:

• In-transit damage
• Flood insurance
• Earthquake insurance
• Windstorm insurance

Tips for finding the best mobile home insurance

Looking for mobile home insurance can feel overwhelming. Here are some tips for shopping around:

• Know your trailer type: There are different classifications of mobile homes. They can have wheels or no wheels, be double-wide or single-wide, or fit different Housing and Urban Development (HUD) qualifications based on when it was built. Insurance companies will want to know these details and the costs may differ depending on your trailer type. 
• Understand local regulations: Local and state regulations for mobile home insurance may differ. You may be required to hold different coverage types depending on where you live, and there may be other requirements, such as moving your trailer a certain number of times per year. 
• Compare several options: When shopping for any kind of insurance, it’s a good idea to get quotes from several insurance companies. You may be able to get the same or similar coverage for less between two companies. 
• Bundle policies: If you already have auto insurance or another type of insurance, talk to your current insurance carrier about bundling options. You may be able to save on multiple insurance policies if you bundle them together.

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, such as auto insurance, through the same insurer
• Installing a home security system
• Retirement and/or senior discounts

Frequently asked questions