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 much insurance coverage do I need for a mobile home?

To determine how much insurance coverage you need for your mobile home, look at the costs involved in replacing your home if it were destroyed or seriously damaged. It may be worth doing some research so you have some understanding of what comparable new mobile homes are selling for in your region. Consider, too, how much of the replacement costs you could pay out of pocket. If you can put $1,000 into replacement costs, for example, it's a good idea to assign that amount as your deductible. Experts recommend speaking with a licensed insurance agent for help determining your insurance needs.

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.

Best Mobile Home Insurance Companies

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 $127,300 in 2022, the latest year for which data is available, while the average sale price of a new house was $540,000. 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 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: 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 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:

Best 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 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’s user-friendly quoting tools are available online for a quick manufactured home insurance quote. With Assurant, there is also the option for a stated value loss settlement. Assurant uses several companies to underwrite its policies, including American Bankers Insurance in Florida and American Security Insurance Company.
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. The Insurance Information Institute 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.

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Advertising disclosure

This advertisement is powered by Coverage.com, LLC, a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249) and a corporate affiliate of Bankrate. The offers and links that appear on this advertisement are from companies that compensate Coverage.com in different ways. The compensation received and other factors, such as your location, may impact what offers and links appear, and how, where and in what order they appear. While we seek to provide a wide range of offers, we do not include every product or service that may be available. Our goal is to keep information accurate and timely, but some information may not be current. Your actual offer from an advertiser may be different from the offer on this advertisement. All offers are subject to additional terms and conditions.

Insurance disclosure

Coverage.com, LLC is a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249). Coverage.com services are only available in states where it is licensed. Coverage.com may not offer insurance coverage in all states or scenarios. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way.

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:

Your location
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 personal property
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, such as auto insurance, 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 traditional 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 determine how much insurance coverage you need for your mobile home, look at the costs involved in replacing your home if it were destroyed or seriously damaged. It may be worth doing some research so you have some understanding of what comparable new mobile homes are selling for in your region. Consider, too, how much of the replacement costs you could pay out of pocket. If you can put $1,000 into replacement costs, for example, it's a good idea to assign that amount as your deductible. Experts recommend speaking with a licensed insurance agent for help determining your insurance needs.
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.

Mobile home insurance: companies, costs and other considerations