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Manufactured Home Insurance in Texas
Single-wides on family land, double-wides in a Hill Country community, a new modular on a slab: Texas manufactured homes come in many shapes, and the insurance has to match how the home was built, where it sits, and how it is anchored. This page explains the coverage, the Texas details underwriters ask about, and how to get a quote without guesswork.
What manufactured home insurance usually covers
A manufactured home policy is a package built for factory-built housing. It looks similar to a homeowners policy on paper, but the forms, rating, and settlement rules are written for homes that arrive on a chassis and are set on piers, runners, or a permanent foundation. Most Texas policies combine the same building blocks:
Physical damage to the structure, including attached decks, porches, and skirting, from covered perils such as fire, wind, hail, and theft.
Detached carports, storage buildings, and fences on the lot, usually as a percentage of the home’s limit.
Furniture, clothes, and electronics. Ask whether contents settle at replacement cost or depreciated value.
Hotel or rental costs while the home is repaired or replaced after a covered loss.
Legal defense and damages if a guest is hurt or you damage someone else’s property.
Trip collision (transport) coverage, debris removal, water backup, and scheduled valuables.
The Insurance Information Institute notes that ordinary mobile home policies do not cover flood and generally do not cover the home while it is being moved, which are the two gaps that surprise Texas owners most often. Both are covered later on this page.
If you want the coverage words explained in more depth, our other structures guide and additional living expenses guide walk through how those limits are usually set.
Mobile, manufactured, or modular: why the label matters
Carriers sort factory-built homes by the building code they were built to, because that code predicts how the home holds up in wind and fire. Homes built before June 15, 1976 predate the federal HUD Code and are usually called mobile homes. Homes built after that date carry a red HUD certification label on each section and a data plate inside, and are called manufactured homes. Modular homes are built in a factory to the same local building codes as a site-built house and are often insured on a standard homeowners form instead.
The HUD Office of Manufactured Housing Programs oversees the construction standards found in 24 CFR 3280. Many underwriters ask for the year, make, serial number, and number of sections straight from the data plate, so a quick photo of that plate saves a phone call.
- Pre-1976 mobile homes: fewer carriers will write them, and some only on a named-perils, actual cash value basis.
- HUD-Code manufactured homes: the core of the market, with more options for newer, well-maintained homes.
- Modular homes: often eligible for a regular homeowners policy once set on a permanent foundation.
Texas details underwriters look at
Wind zones. The HUD Code assigns every county a design wind zone. In Texas, 15 coastal counties, including Galveston, Brazoria, Nueces, Cameron, and Jefferson, are Wind Zone II, which calls for homes engineered to a 100 mph design wind speed. The rest of the state is Wind Zone I. A home’s data plate shows the zone it was built for, and coastal carriers will ask.
Anchoring and tie-downs. Wind claims on manufactured homes often trace back to loose or rusted straps. FEMA’s tie-down guidance recommends checking strap tension, corrosion, and anchor condition, and some insurers require proof of tie-downs before they will bind wind coverage. Keep the installer’s paperwork if you have it.
Ownership records. In Texas, ownership of a manufactured home is recorded by the TDHCA Manufactured Housing Division through a Statement of Ownership rather than a car-style title. That record shows whether the home is treated as personal property or real property and lists any lienholder. Your lender will expect to be named on the policy, so have the lender’s name and loan number handy.
Hail and tornadoes. North and Central Texas see frequent hail, and the National Weather Service advises that manufactured homes are not safe shelter in a tornado. Plan for your family’s safety first, then make sure the policy’s wind and hail deductible is one you can actually pay.
Coastal wind, TWIA, and flood
Along the coast, a regular manufactured home policy may exclude wind and hail. In the designated catastrophe area, the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) is the wind and hail insurer of last resort, and eligibility rules depend on the home and how it was installed. Our Texas windstorm insurance guide explains how a separate wind policy fits alongside the main policy.
Flood is never covered by the base policy. The National Flood Insurance Program, through FloodSmart, writes flood coverage for manufactured homes that are anchored to a permanent foundation, and private flood markets are an option in many areas. In mapped high-risk zones, federal floodplain rules call for manufactured homes to be elevated and anchored against flotation and lateral movement; FEMA P-85 is the technical guide installers use. If you are anywhere near a creek, bayou, or low-lying road, read our flood insurance guide and ask for a flood quote at the same time.
What affects the price
Premiums on manufactured homes swing widely across Texas. The same 2015 double-wide can price very differently in Lubbock, Tyler, and Port Lavaca. The factors carriers weigh most:
- Year built and whether the home meets the HUD Code (post-1976).
- Location: county, wind zone, distance to the coast, and fire protection class.
- Foundation type, tie-downs, and skirting.
- Roof type and age, including whether a roof-over or pitched roof was added.
- Replacement cost versus actual cash value settlement on the home.
- Deductibles, especially percentage wind and hail deductibles.
- Claims history, plus dogs, pools, wood stoves, and any business use.
- Whether the home is in a land-lease community or on land you own.
Replacement cost coverage pays to replace the home with a comparable new one, while actual cash value subtracts depreciation. On an older home, that difference can decide whether a total loss leaves you able to buy another home.
Who this coverage is for
- Owner-occupants living in a single-wide, double-wide, or triple-wide year-round.
- Owners in land-lease communities, where the park may require proof of liability coverage.
- Rural landowners with a manufactured home on acreage, sometimes alongside barns or a shop. If the land is a working operation, see our farm and ranch insurance page.
- Landlords who rent a manufactured home to a tenant. That usually needs a rental or dwelling form; our landlord insurance guide covers the differences.
- Seasonal and secondary owners, such as a lake or hunting place used part of the year. Vacancy and unoccupancy wording matters here.
Common gaps to check
- Moving the home. Transport is usually excluded. Ask the carrier about a trip collision or transit endorsement before the move, and confirm the transporter’s own coverage.
- Named perils only. Budget policies may list just a few causes of loss. If a cause is not on the list, it is not covered.
- Thin liability. Base liability limits can be low. An umbrella policy can add another layer when you have assets to protect.
- Contents limits. Jewelry, firearms, and tools may have small sublimits; see our personal property guide.
- Wear, rot, and gradual leaks. These are maintenance issues, not sudden covered losses.
What we will ask when you request a quote
The form on this page follows the questions Texas carriers ask most, so an agent can shop your home without a lot of back-and-forth. It takes about two minutes, and anything optional can be skipped:
- The home’s address, and whether it sits on land you own or on a rented lot.
- Type (single, double, or triple section), year built, manufacturer, and size.
- Roof, exterior, skirting, tie-downs, porches and steps, and any sheds or carports.
- The coverage basis and amount you want, and any mortgage or loan on the home.
- Your current carrier, premium, and renewal date, if you have one.
For background reading, our blog post Mobile Home Insurance in Texas, Explained goes deeper on settlement terms and moving a home. The Census Bureau’s Manufactured Housing Survey tracks new home prices and placements if you are pricing a replacement.
How Texas Insurance Resources helps
Texas Insurance Resources works with licensed agents who place manufactured and mobile homes with several carriers, including markets for older homes, rural acreage, and coastal counties. We compare limits, deductibles, and settlement terms side by side, and we point out when you need a separate wind or flood policy so nothing is left uncovered. Call 800-875-4711 or use the form below. Educational questions are welcome even before you are ready to switch.
Get your free Texas manufactured home insurance quote
Fill out the short form below and a licensed Texas agent will compare carriers for you. It takes about two minutes, there is no obligation, and we never sell your information. Prefer the phone? Call 800-875-4711.
What happens next
- A licensed Texas agent reviews your request.
- We compare carriers for your manufactured / mobile home coverage.
- You get options by phone or email, usually the same business day.
FAQ: Manufactured Home Insurance in Texas
Is mobile home insurance the same as manufactured home insurance?
Mostly. Insurers use both names for policies on factory-built homes. The year built matters: homes built before June 15, 1976 are often treated as mobile homes with fewer carrier options.
Does manufactured home insurance cover flood?
No. Flood needs a separate policy from the National Flood Insurance Program or a private flood insurer. The home generally must be anchored to a permanent foundation.
Will my policy cover the home while it is moved?
Usually not. Ask for a transit or trip collision endorsement before the move, and confirm the transporter carries its own coverage.
Can I insure a manufactured home on the Texas coast?
Yes, but wind and hail may need to be written separately, for example through TWIA in the catastrophe area. The home’s wind zone and tie-downs affect eligibility.
Do I need insurance if my manufactured home is paid off?
It is not legally required, but without it you would pay for storm, fire, or liability losses yourself. Many land-lease communities also require liability coverage.
What information do I need for a quote?
The address, year, make, size and number of sections, foundation and tie-down details, roof type, occupancy, and your current carrier if you have one.
Sources
We used these public sources for the facts on this page. Your policy forms and carrier rules always control.
- Insurance Information Institute: Mobile home insurance
- HUD Office of Manufactured Housing Programs
- eCFR: 24 CFR 3280.305, structural design and wind zones
- TDHCA Manufactured Housing Division
- TDHCA: Applying for a Statement of Ownership
- FEMA: Check tie-downs and anchoring of manufactured homes
- FEMA P-85: Protecting Manufactured Homes from Floods and Other Hazards
- FloodSmart (National Flood Insurance Program)
- Texas Windstorm Insurance Association
- National Weather Service: Tornado safety
- U.S. Census Bureau: Manufactured Housing Survey
Get a Texas manufactured home insurance quote
Compare manufactured and mobile home coverage with Texas Insurance Resources. Call 800-875-4711 or request a quote online.