Getting insurance for an older mobile home can be difficult. Many companies consider older mobile homes too risky to insure, while others only accept them under certain conditions. If you have an older mobile home or are considering buying one, read on for tips on how to get the right insurance for it.

Older mobile home insurance at a glance

  • Foremost, American Modern and Allstate are among the best insurance companies for older mobile homes, including those built before 1976.
  • The price of insurance for older mobile homes tends to be higher, per amount of coverage, than it is for newer models.
  • Mobile home insurance is not required by law, but lenders typically require it for a mortgage and mobile home communities often also require it, regardless of your mortgage status.

In this article

Why is it difficult to insure an older mobile home?

Older mobile homes are seen as generally being more susceptible to fire and weather damage than newer models, and this is the main reason why they are more difficult to insure.

Mobile homes built before 1976, when the Department of Housing and Urban Development established national construction standards for them, tend to be the most difficult to insure. Homes built in 1976 or later are built to HUD standards and technically known as manufactured homes.

Some home insurers avoid mobile and manufactured homes altogether. Some only insure manufactured homes, and others only accept manufactured homes built within the past two decades.

Companies that do insure older mobile homes typically require them to pass an inspection showing that their electrical and plumbing systems, roof and HVAC are in good condition.

If you plan to purchase an older mobile home, consider getting an insurance quote before you make an offer. It’s always best to get quotes from multiple companies when you shop.

Compare mobile home insurance rates from top companies

Which insurance companies are best for older mobile homes?

Foremost, American Modern and Allstate are among the best insurance companies for older mobile homes, including those built before 1976.

Foremost

Foremost has been insuring mobile homes for nearly 70 years and insures mobile and manufactured homes of any age. Foremost also lets you customize your coverage with optional endorsements that range from hobby farm liability to replacement cost upgrades for your belongings.

Although Foremost does not offer car insurance, it does offer a discount to customers who get their car insurance from Farmers or USAA.

Foremost offers additional discounts on mobile home insurance if you:

  • Are 50 or older
  • Also insure a boat or ATV with Foremost
  • Live in an approved mobile home park

American Modern

American Modern’s corporate roots trace back to the post–World War II mobile home boom. The company insures mobile homes of any age. It also insures mobile and manufactured homes that are vacant, occupied on a seasonal basis or used as a rental property.

Allstate

Allstate extends many of its standard homeowners policy features to manufactured and mobile homes. For example, you can typically get a discount for bundling your mobile home policy with your car insurance or any other Allstate policy you may have. Add-ons for things such as identity-theft restoration and water backups allow you to shore up your insurance protection on an a la carte basis.

In addition to getting a discount for bundling, you can also save on mobile home insurance from Allstate if:

  • You are the original titleholder of your mobile or manufactured home
  • You have installed protective devices, such as home security
  • You are 55 and retired

Other insurance companies to consider for an older mobile home

You may also be able to find insurance for an older mobile home from a regional company, depending on where you live.

For example, Kin offers insurance for older mobile homes in Florida and Louisiana.

In Florida, older mobile homes may also qualify for coverage from Citizens.

How much does it cost to insure an older mobile home?

The price of insurance for older mobile homes tends to be higher, per amount of coverage, than it is for newer models.

For example, insurance for a $60,000 mobile home built in 1970 is likely to cost more than a policy with the same coverage for a mobile home built in 2000.

The average price of insurance for mobile homes, new and old, ranges from $500 to $1,500, depending on a combination of rate factors, including:

  • Your home’s age and construction features
  • Your location, including weather risks and crime rates in your area
  • Your insurance history
  • Your credit history, except in states that prohibit credit scoring
  • Any discounts you may qualify to receive

Since companies weigh these factors differently and offer different discounts, you may qualify for a significantly lower rate with one company than you do with others.

How do I get insurance quotes for an older mobile home?

With fewer companies to choose from, it takes a little more effort to get insurance quotes for an older mobile or manufactured home than it does for other types of homes.

You can request a quote directly from Allstate and Foremost, online or by phone.

American Modern’s website provides a list of independent agents in your area whom you can contact for a quote, by email or phone.

You can also ask an insurance agent from most other companies in your area for help. Even if an agent does not work directly for a company that insures older mobile homes, they may be able to get you a quote from a company that does.

For example, when you request an insurance quote for an older mobile home from a Farmers agent, they typically provide an estimate from Foremost, which is owned by Farmers.

Foremost also provides mobile and manufactured home insurance for USAA.

An insurance company may request photos of your home before it provides a quote.

Regardless of your home’s age, you typically have the best chances of qualifying for coverage and better rates when your mobile home meets the following criteria:

  • It is properly anchored or tied down
  • The foundation is skirted or fully enclosed
  • You have handrails next to staircases with three or more steps
  • Your home and property appear neat and well-maintained

What does mobile home insurance cover?

Like insurance for traditional site-built homes, standard mobile home insurance is typically offered as a package that provides coverage for the following:

  • Your dwelling, or home, for damage from a fire and other perils such as wind, hail, lightning, falling objects, burglary, vandalism and others
  • Other structures on your property, such as a detached garage or shed, sometimes included as part of your dwelling coverage
  • Your personal property, or belongings
  • Loss of use, for temporary living expenses if a covered peril leaves your home uninhabitable during repairs
  • Personal liability for injuries or property damage you accidentally cause to others, at home or away from your property
  • Medical protection for guests injured while visiting your property

How much insurance do I need for an older mobile home?

Mobile home insurance is not required by law, but lenders typically require it for a mortgage and mobile home communities often also require it, regardless of your mortgage status.

A standard mobile home insurance policy covers your home at its actual cash value, which is the present value of your home after depreciation.

If you have a mortgage, your lender is likely to require you to insure your home at replacement cost. A home’s replacement cost value is the estimated price of replacing it with a new one with the same specifications and quality grade, with no deduction for depreciation.

If you don’t have a mortgage, you may be able to insure an older mobile home at its stated value, which is an amount you and the insurance company agree upon. A stated value policy can save you money on premiums, but it also leaves you with less insurance money after a disaster.

For example, you may be able to reduce your rate by insuring your $60,000 mobile home for a stated value of $40,000. However, if the home burns down, you get $20,000 less from the insurance company than you would if you insure the home at its actual cash value.

How do I know how old my mobile home is?

If you own a mobile home built in 1976 or later, or are considering buying one, you can find its age on its HUD-required data plate. This letter-sized label should be attached to a kitchen cabinet, electrical panel or bedroom closet.

The data plate shows the date the home was built and other vital information. It’s different from the certification label that HUD requires manufacturers to attach to the outside of homes.

If the home was built before 1976, you may have to retrieve sales records to find its age. However, if the mobile home remains at its original location, your county assessor’s records may also include information about the home’s age.

Frequently asked questions

Mobile home insurance is worth the cost. It protects you from expensive costs related to damages from common perils like fire, lightning and robbery. Mobile home insurance can also protect you if someone who does not live with you is injured on your property.

Manufactured homes are mobile homes built after 1976, when construction standards established by the Department of Housing and Urban Development took effect. Mobile homes were constructed before June 15, 1976.

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