Everything You Need to Know About Mobile Home Insurance Coverage
Updated
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Home insurance protects your home and your peace of mind in case of a natural disaster, theft, vandalism, or fire. Finding coverage for a traditional house isn't difficult, but securing the best insurance for mobile homes is a little trickier, especially if the home is old. Homeowners need to be armed with the most important information about mobile home insurance before choosing their policy. Read on to learn more.
Mobile home insurance is a special type of home insurance policy, also known as an HO-7 policy. It's similar to traditional homeowners insurance, but it's specifically designed to cover mobile and manufactured homes.
While it's not required by state law, lenders may require homeowners with mortgages to buy mobile home insurance.
In terms of coverage, homeowners insurance for mobile homes is pretty similar to coverage for traditional homes. It generally includes the following coverages.
This pays for damages to a mobile home due to weather, fire, vandalism, and several other perils. As with traditional home insurance, there are some things that even the best mobile home insurance companies won't help you with. These include floods and earthquakes. Homeowners need to buy separate, specialized insurance policies if they want this protection.
The homeowner's personal property is protected under a mobile home insurance policy. This is true even if the items are lost or stolen from somewhere other than the home itself.
Homeowners with sheds, garages, or other structures on their property will be happy to know that home insurance for mobile homes covers these buildings as well.
Liability coverage protects a homeowner who's sued for property damage or an injury that occurred on the homeowner's property.
"Manufactured home" describes mobile homes built after June 15, 1976, while "mobile home" technically refers to homes built before that date. Manufactured homes are covered under a mobile home insurance policy.
Modular homes, on the other hand, are not covered under mobile home insurance. While these homes are also largely built in factories, they're brought to the site in pieces and assembled there. Homeowners who buy a modular home should look into traditional homeowners insurance.
Mobile home insurance can cost homeowners anywhere from $300 to $1,000 annually, according to Insurance.com. This is more affordable than traditional homeowners insurance. But costs vary depending on the amount of homeowners insurance you need, the home's location, and the homeowner's claims history. Homeowners can often figure out how to lower your homeowners insurance cost.
Many popular traditional homeowners insurance companies also offer mobile home insurance. But you may not be able to get a quote for this coverage online.
Some specialty insurance companies offer mobile home insurance policies as well. Check out some of the best home insurance providers for mobile homes in our list below.
Here's a look at some of the best home insurance companies in the country for mobile homes.
Foremost is a specialty insurance provider that's part of Farmers Insurance Group. It has offered mobile home insurance since 1952, and is a big name in the industry. In addition to basic coverage options, it has a nice variety of endorsements homeowners can add to their policies.
Geico is one of the largest insurers in the country and it’s known for offering affordable rates on many types of policies. It’s a great option for mobile homeowners who also need car insurance or other types of coverage and only want to deal with a single carrier. Its mobile home policies cover all the basics, plus a variety of endorsements homeowners can add if they want more comprehensive protection.
American Family mobile home insurance stands out for its impressive selection of discounts, including a rare smart home discount. Homeowners who remain claim free can also save on their out-of-pocket costs, thanks to American Family's "vanishing deductible" option.
State Farm's mobile home coverage is unique in that it includes protection for lost rental income. This comes into play if the mobile home owner typically rents out the home, but can't do so because of a covered claim. It’s also a good fit for those who live in their mobile homes year-round. It provides comprehensive coverage and strong customer service, and its plans are widely available.
Allstate earned strong ratings in J.D. Power's latest Homeowners Insurance Customer Satisfaction survey. It also fared reasonably well in its Property Claims Satisfaction Survey. Seniors in particular may appreciate the special discounts Allstate offers them.
American Modern is another specialty insurer that sells mobile home insurance policies. It's one of the few insurers that sells older mobile home insurance for homes built before June 15, 1976. These homes are more difficult to insure than newer manufactured homes because the older homes weren't well regulated for safety. American Modern's policies are flexible, and allow homeowners to get coverage even if they don't live in the mobile home full-time.
The best mobile home insurance for you depends on several factors, including where you live, your claims history, and the type of coverage you want. The only way to know which company offers you the best deal is to get quotes from several insurers for comparison.
Insurance on a mobile home is usually less than $1,000 per year, though this can vary widely depending on the amount of coverage the homeowner wants, where they live, and what discounts they qualify for.
Mobile homes require an HO-7 policy rather than a standard HO-3 policy. This is almost identical to traditional homeowners insurance, but some insurers may offer unique endorsements, like protection for the mobile home while it’s in transit to its final destination.
It is possible to insure a mobile home built before June 15, 1976, though it may be tougher to find coverage. Homeowners should also be prepared to pay more to insure an older mobile home than one built more recently.
It isn't too difficult to get mobile home insurance as long as the home was built after June 15, 1976. Homes built before this date weren't well regulated for safety, so many insurers are wary of covering them.
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