Mobile Home Insurance FAQ
(Everything you need to know - and more)
Written by
Jessica Huneck is an insurance writer from TrustedChoice.com. She began her writing career in 2011 and has since earned herself a bachelor's degree in English writing.
Q. What Is Mobile Home Insurance?
Q. What Is the Difference Between Mobile Home Insurance and Modular Home Insurance?
Q. What Does Mobile Home Insurance Cover?
Q. How Much Is Mobile and Modular Home Insurance?
Q. Is Mobile and Modular Home Insurance Required?
Q. How Much Mobile Home Insurance Do I Need?
Q. Does Mobile Home Insurance Cover Wildfires?
Q. Is Mobile and Modular Home Insurance Tax Deductible?
Q. How Can I Buy Manufactured or Modular Home Insurance?
What Is Mobile Home Insurance?
Mobile home insurance, or manufactured home insurance, is a special type of homeowners policy designed to cover a different set of risks compared to traditional site-built homes. Manufactured homes are built in a factory with lighter materials, then transported to a site where they are typically tied down via ground anchors for stability.
Because these homes are designed and built differently than traditional site-built homes, they need a special insurance policy that assumes the added risks that come with a strapped-down home vs. one built on a concrete foundation.
Our independent agent matching tool will find you the best insurance solution in your area. Tell us what you're looking for and we'll recommend the best agents for you. Any information you provide will only be sent to the agent you pick.
What Is the Difference Between Mobile Home Insurance and Modular Home Insurance?
Modular homes are actually more like site-built homes in that they are constructed on-site onto a foundation like a traditional home. Modular homes are only similar to mobile homes in that they are built in a factory and then sections are transported to the site for construction.
Modular homes may be treated like site-built homes for insurance purposes. Because they are built on a foundation like site-built homes, they generally have fewer risks of damage or loss than mobile and manufactured homes.
For more information about the insurance requirements in your state, talk with your independent agent.
What Does Mobile Home Insurance Cover?
The coverage you need for mobile and modular home is similar to a traditional home. The structure of the policy and amount of coverage needed will depend on the size and value of the home, whether you own the land the home is built on and the risks in the area, among other factors.
The basic types of coverage may include:
- Mobile Home Liability Coverage: Covers you if a visitor on your property gets injured due to your negligence, or if you damage someone else's property and you are taken to court
- Property damage: Covers any significant loss to your property that requires repair
- Personal property: Covers your belongings in case of burglary or theft, as well as damage or loss due to weather events or disasters like fires, tornadoes or falling objects
How Much Is Mobile and Modular Home Insurance?
These two types of insurance have different cost structures because of the differences in the types of homes they insure, and rates can vary widely from state to state. Because mobile and manufactured homes tend to have lower overall value than a modular or traditional home, their insurance costs tend to be lower.
However, because mobile and manufactured homes are considered riskier to insure than modular homes, in some cases you will find that the premiums on a manufactured home policy with similar levels of coverage to a modular home will actually cost more.
A local independent agent can compare rates from several different insurance companies to make sure you get the right amount of coverage for your needs at the best possible rate.
Get Mobile Home Insurance
Our independent agents shop around to find you the best coverage.
Is Mobile and Modular Home Insurance Required?
Requirements for insurance vary by state. As a rule of thumb, if you finance your home and make payments to a bank or mortgage company, you likely will be required to insure the home to protect the bank’s investment as well as your own.
Whether your home is manufactured, modular or site-built, it likely is the biggest asset and biggest investment you’ve made. In that sense, it is wise to invest in insurance so that you will be able to repair or rebuild in the event of a loss.
If you own your home outright, you could choose to self-insure your home. Whether this option makes sense for you depends on the value of your home and how many other assets you have.
Start by determining whether you could replace your home out of pocket if you suffer a total loss. A local independent agent can sit down and help you assess your situation and provide you with all the necessary information you need to protect your home.
How Much Mobile Home Insurance Do I Need?
There are many factors that go into determining the right amount of coverage for your manufactured or modular home. Consider the value of your home and all of your possessions, including furniture, art, electronics, appliances, jewelry, and so on.
Typical minimum insurance amounts are $30,000 worth of coverage for single-section manufactured homes, and $45,000 for double section homes. However, you want to consider whether you would be able to rebuild in the event of a total loss.
The other factor to consider is liability. Consider how much coverage you need to protect your finances in the event of a large claim, which can result from dog bites, four-wheeler accidents, slips and falls, and other injuries that may occur on your property.
If you are sued, your basic liability coverage may not be enough to pay for legal costs, any awards, lost wages or medical bills for the injured party.
Talk with an insurance agent about how much coverage is right for you, and whether a personal umbrella liability policy may make sense for your needs.
Does Mobile Home Insurance Cover Wildfires?
Many insurance policies cover disasters like wildfires, but in high-risk areas such as drought areas or densely forested regions, some policies exclude this coverage. Always check to see that your policy does not specifically exclude wildfire risk.
If you are covered, then the policy can kick in if you have tp evacuate. The coverage may pay for reasonable lodging, meal and travel costs during the evacuation period. It may also provide coverage if your home suffers damage from a wildfire.
Is Mobile and Modular Home Insurance Tax Deductible?
The U.S. tax code can be very confusing, and it’s hard to know what tax benefits are related to owning a home. Here are the most common tax-deductible items for homeowners:
- Interest you pay every year in your mortgage payments
- “Points” (pre-paid interest) on a mortgage you took out if it happened during the tax year
- Property taxes you paid are frequently tax deductible
Insurance premiums are not usually tax-deductible unless you run a business out of your home, or the mobile home is used purely for commercial purposes.
Get Mobile Home Insurance
Our independent agents shop around to find you the best coverage.
How Can I Buy Manufactured or Modular Home Insurance?
Manufactured and modular home insurance is offered through many companies, just like traditional homeowners insurance. You can get quotes and buy policies online with ease, and you can also get additional guidance from an independent agent.
The most efficient way to get insurance is through a local independent agent. These agents can quickly compare quotes and coverage options from several different companies for you and help you make an informed decision.
Your agent will be there for you when you need to file a claim, and can help you to process your claim quickly so you can get on with your life. Contact a local insurance agent today for assistance with your mobile, manufactured or modular home insurance.