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Mobile home insurance policies — sometimes referred to as manufactured home insurance — offer two main types of insurance coverage: physical damage coverage for the mobile home and your belongings, and personal liability coverage.
Mark Friedlander, director of corporate communications at the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I), explains that these coverage options are generally available for the following types of mobile homes: mobile homes located in a park or on private property, commercial mobile homes, seasonally used mobile homes, and rental mobile homes.
If you have a mobile home in any of these locations, here’s what you need to know about manufactured home insurance.
Mobile home insurance isn’t required by law, but mortgage lenders may require it.
This type of policy provides liability protection and coverage for physical damage.
A modular home isn’t the same thing as a manufactured or mobile home and generally requires different coverage.
Why do you need mobile home insurance?
Mobile home insurance financially protects both the structure of your mobile home and your personal property. This coverage isn’t required by law, but if you have a mortgage on the mobile home, your lender will likely require you to have insurance.
“Just like any other property insurance policy, mobile home insurance should be purchased to financially protect you and your family from catastrophic losses,” Friedlander says.
Not having mobile home insurance can leave you on the hook for an expensive bill if your home is damaged or completely destroyed by fire, a severe weather event, or another peril.
Standard mobile home insurance policies don’t protect your mobile home while in transit. You may be able to purchase temporary coverage to insure the home and your personal belongings when moving it.
What does mobile home insurance cover?
Mobile home coverage typically provides protection against physical damage, personal liability, and loss of your property’s use. Here’s a deeper look at the coverages included in most mobile home policies.
Dwelling
Dwelling coverage pays for any accidental damage that occurs to your mobile home or other related structures, like an attached deck or storage shed. Eligible perils include theft, wind, hail, fire, falling objects, and vandalism.
Personal belongings
Personal property coverage pays for damage done to your belongings inside the home if a covered event occurs. For example, if your couch was destroyed in a fire or someone stole your TV in a burglary, this coverage would pay to replace it.
Personal liability
If someone is injured on your property and files a claim or lawsuit against you, personal liability coverage can help pay for the associated costs including medical expenses and lost wages. This coverage can also apply to property damage you cause to other people’s property.
Loss of use
If you’re unable to live on your property after a covered event and are forced to move to a hotel or other living arrangement, loss of use coverage will pay for those hotel costs. It can also cover food and other living expenses you incur during displacement.
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See More: Guide to Personal Liability and Home Insurance
What does mobile home insurance not cover?
Just like homeowners insurance, mobile home insurance doesn’t cover everything that could happen to your home.
Mobile home insurance generally excludes:
Flood damage: You typically need to buy separate flood insurance to help protect against flood damage. This coverage can be quite expensive, and you can purchase it from some private insurers or through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). You should consider this coverage if you live in an area prone to flooding.[1]
Earthquake damage: You can usually buy earthquake coverage as an add-on benefit to your mobile home insurance policy. If you live somewhere prone to earthquakes, this type of coverage can potentially save you a lot of money. Like flood insurance, earthquake coverage is usually excluded from conventional insurance policies due to the expensive damage earthquakes cause.
Damage from negligence or wear and tear: Mobile home insurance is designed to protect against accidental damage, so it excludes issues that relate to how someone maintains their mobile home. It won’t cover rust, mold, wet or dry rot, vermin, rodents, water damage from sewers, drain back-ups, or other damage that occurs from negligence, poor maintenance, or wear and tear.
Damage done while moving: Mobile home insurance policies don’t cover the home while it’s in transit. You’ll likely need a temporary policy or special endorsement for coverage during moves.
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Read More: Flood Insurance (The Ultimate Guide for Homeowners)
How much does mobile home insurance cost?
The cost of your mobile home insurance can range widely based on the insurer, your location, and more. In Louisiana, the average mobile home insurance premium is $2,181 per year, according to insurance company Kin. In Florida, it’s $1,912. The national annual average tends to range anywhere from $300 to $2,000, according to TGS Insurance.
Many other factors can influence how much you’ll spend on mobile home insurance, too, including:
The age of the mobile home
The home’s condition
Security and safety features of the home
The home’s value
Coverage limits
Claims history of both the policyholder and the property
Deductibles
The value of your personal property
Whether you own or rent the lot your mobile home is on
Discounts for mobile homeowners
Most insurance companies offer discounts that can help you reduce the cost of your coverage. They may offer these when you first take out the policy or at renewal.
Here’s a look at some discounts you might be able to get on your mobile home insurance policy:
New-home discount: Some insurers offer premium discounts for newly bought properties.
Tie-down/skirted discount: These discounts reduce your premium if you have your mobile home tied down and fully skirted.
Claim-free discount: If you made no insurance claims in the last policy period, you may be eligible for a discount at renewal.
Original owner discount: You may qualify for this discount if you’re the first and original owner of your property.
Multi-line discount: Insurers offer this discount to customers who have multiple policies with them. You can qualify by using the same insurance company for your mobile home insurance and car insurance, for example.
Retiree/senior discount: If you’re retired or age 55 or older, insurers may offer you a discount on your premium.
Security discount: Having protective devices like security systems or cameras in your home could qualify you for a discount, too.
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Where to buy mobile home insurance
Many different insurance companies offer mobile home insurance, including large companies like Allstate, GEICO, State Farm, and Progressive. Here are some of the best mobile home insurance companies to consider for your policy.
Allstate
Allstate| IQ Score | 8.9/10 |
|---|---|
| JD Power | 833 |
| $300,000 Dwelling | $134/mo |
| $500,000 Dwelling | $192/mo |
Allstate earned a J.D. Power customer satisfaction score of 809 out of 1,000 in J.D. Power’s 2023 U.S. Home Insurance Study, which indicates an overall good customer experience.[2] The company’s manufactured home insurance policy provides coverage for liability, injury claims made against you, and property damage.
On the downside, Allstate’s policy doesn’t cover any damage caused by continuous or repeated seepage or leakage of water or steam. Damage caused by underground water is also excluded.
American Family
American Family| IQ Score | 9.1/10 |
|---|---|
| JD Power | 840 |
| $300,000 Dwelling | $113/mo |
| $500,000 Dwelling | $156/mo |
American Family received a score of 813 in J.D. Power’s 2023 U.S. Home Insurance Study, putting it just below average across all companies considered.[2]
In addition to standard mobile home insurance coverage, American Family also offers a variety of add-ons that make it possible to customize your coverage, like coverage for hidden water damage and trip collision coverage. Notably, this company also lowers your deductible each year you continue to stay enrolled.
But American Family’s mobile home insurance products are only available in 19 states, and you have to purchase additional coverage for other structures.
American Modern Insurance Group
American Modern| IQ Score | NR |
|---|---|
| JD Power | Not rated |
American Modern Insurance Group offers coverage for single-family, singlewide, doublewide, modular, rental, seasonal, and even vacant mobile homes. While the company isn’t rated by J.D. Power, its coverages are comprehensive, and you can add on extras like identity theft coverage, water backup coverage, and sump-pump overflow coverage. American Modern also offers six discounts that can save you money on your premium.
Farmers
Farmers| IQ Score | 8.3/10 |
|---|---|
| JD Power | 815 |
| $300,000 Dwelling | $147/mo |
| $500,000 Dwelling | $238/mo |
Available in 43 states, Farmers also has a J.D. Power customer satisfaction rating of 800 out of 1,000.[2] But Farmers’ website isn’t easy to navigate, and it doesn’t provide many details on its mobile home insurance offerings.
Still, Farmers offers a wide variety of discounts for homeowner insurance policies, including mobile and manufactured insurance, such as a bundling discount and a non-smoking discount.
How to get cheaper mobile home insurance
Leveraging discounts is one way to reduce your mobile home insurance premiums, but you have other options, too. Here are some strategies that may help you secure a lower premium:
Compare several insurance companies. Once you know how much coverage you need, get quotes from multiple insurers and compare each company based on its rates and discounts. Using a reliable quote-comparison site can help streamline this process.
Choose a higher deductible. Deductibles and premiums move in opposite directions, so if you opt for a higher deductible, your premium will decline (and vice versa). Just make sure you have enough in savings to cover that deductible should you need to.
Make your home safer. Installing security devices or weather-resistant features can put your home at lower risk for theft and damage. This could also qualify you for lower premiums.
Boost your credit score. Many states allow insurers to consider your credit history when pricing their policies, and they reward people with better credit scores with lower premiums.
You can also work with an independent insurance agent or broker to find the perfect policy for you. They can help you compare companies and premiums and ensure you get the best deal and the right coverage.
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How to file a mobile home insurance claim
If your mobile home is damaged in a covered event, you‘ll want to file a claim as soon as possible. The faster you file, the quicker you’ll get the funds needed to repair your property.
To file a claim, you’ll need to:
Call the police or fire department (if necessary). If someone vandalizes your home, it’s burglarized, or on fire, call the police and fire department. You’ll need to file an official report and submit this to your insurer.
Take photos and videos of the damage. Your insurer will want documentation of any damage done to the property.
Contact your insurance company. You’ll likely need to fill out a form to report the claim and give your insurer a detailed account of what happened. Be sure to have your policy number on hand when you make this call.
Meet the adjuster. Your insurance company will send out an adjuster to assess the damage and determine how much your policy will cover.
Once that’s all done, your insurance company will process your claim and send you a check for the amount covered. You can then use the funds to repair any damage done to your property or belongings. How long this process takes depends on your insurer and where you’re located. In Texas, for example, insurance companies must accept or reject your claim within 15 business days. Once they’ve accepted it, they have five business days to pay out.[3]
Keep in mind that filing a claim against your home insurance policy may increase your premiums come renewal time, though it depends on the nature and extent of the claim. It may also mean forgoing any claim-free discounts your insurer offers.
Mobile home insurance FAQs
If you still have questions about securing the best mobile home insurance policy, the information below may help.
Is mobile home insurance required?
Not legally. If you have a mortgage, your lender will likely require mobile home insurance. But federal and state laws don’t require it.
Can you get flood insurance on your manufactured or mobile home?
Yes. You can get flood insurance on mobile and manufactured homes. In fact, your mortgage lender may require you to if you live in an area at high risk of flooding.
Can you get earthquake insurance on your manufactured or mobile home?
Yes. You can get earthquake insurance on a mobile home and may want to if you’re in an area where earthquakes occur frequently. You can also consider an open-peril policy.
How much mobile home insurance coverage do you need?
It depends. The amount of mobile home insurance you need varies on the value of your home and belongings, as well as your risk tolerance regarding paying out of pocket to replace belongings or repair your home if damage does occur.
Is it difficult to get manufactured home insurance?
Securing manufactured home insurance is fairly simple. Many large insurance companies offer this form of insurance, like Allstate, American Family, Farmers, GEICO, and Progressive.
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