Is a manufactured home insured like a house?
Not always, and the reason starts with how the home is registered. The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) registers and titles manufactured homes, mobilehomes, floating homes and truck campers through its Registration and Titling program. HCD says that when a manufactured home is installed on a foundation system, it is no longer registered by HCD. Source: HCD, Registration & Titling. A home that is still HCD-registered, in a park or on your own lot, is normally insured on a mobile or manufactured home policy. A home on a permanent foundation can sometimes be written on a homeowners form instead. We ask which applies before we quote, because the forms differ.
What mobile and manufactured home insurance covers
The California Department of Insurance describes two basic parts. Physical damage pays for accidental damage to the home, your belongings, and other structures such as attached patios, decks, garages and storage sheds from covered perils like fire, hail and wind. Personal liability responds when someone is hurt or their property is damaged because of your negligence; it does not pay for injuries to you or your household. Policies may also include additional living expenses if a fire or storm makes the home temporarily unlivable, and CDI suggests asking about optional replacement cost coverage, which settles with new items of comparable quality. CDI notes these coverages are generally available for rental, seasonal, park and private-property homes. Source: California Department of Insurance, Is Your Mobile Home Protected? (PDF).
What is not covered: moving the home, earthquake and flood
CDI says most standard mobile home policies do not cover the home while it is in transit; some insurers offer temporary coverage or an endorsement for the move, so call before the home is relocated. Earthquake damage is not covered by standard residential policies (CDI), and the California Earthquake Authority offers policies for mobilehome owners through participating insurers. Source: California Earthquake Authority. Flood is also a separate policy; see our flood insurance page.
What if no company will write my mobile home?
CDI points to two routes. The California FAIR Plan offers fire coverage for property that private insurers consider high risk, and a broker may find coverage with a surplus lines (non-admitted) carrier. CDI cautions that surplus lines insurers are not backed by the California Insurance Guarantee Association. Source: CDI mobile home guide. When we use either route, we tell you which one and what it leaves out.
How much does mobile home insurance cost?
Insurers price a manufactured home on its age and condition, the coverage amount and whether claims settle at replacement cost or actual cash value, whether it sits in a park or on private land, wildfire and brush exposure at the address, roof and systems updates, tie-downs and skirting, whether you live in it or rent it, the liability limit and the deductible. Older homes and high-fire-risk locations narrow the market, which is where the FAIR Plan or surplus lines options above come in. We quote what is available for your specific home and explain the trade-offs.
What we need to quote a manufactured home
- Year, manufacturer, model, and the HCD decal or serial number.
- Width (single, double or triple section) and square footage.
- Whether it sits in a park or on land you own, and whether it is on a foundation system.
- Roof, plumbing, electrical and heating updates with approximate years.
- Skirting, tie-downs, decks, carports and sheds.
- Whether you live in it, rent it out, or use it seasonally.
Insurance City is an independent brokerage in Stockton. We compare manufactured home policies from the carriers we represent and explain how each one settles a claim. Call (209) 670-1556 or request a quote below.
Buying a home in a park? Send the HCD registration card or title and the park name, and a licensed agent can have coverage options ready before escrow closes.
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956 W Robinhood Dr, Stockton · Mon–Fri 10am–6pm · Walk-ins welcome · Se habla español · ITIN accepted. Insurance City Agency, LLC · CA License #6003045. Reviewed by Santo Militello, California-licensed agent and owner (CA Lic. #1737723). Our licensed team brings more than 70 years of combined insurance experience.
