June 1, 2026
Mobile vs Manufactured vs Modular: What Insurers Actually Cover
People use these three words interchangeably. Insurance carriers do not.
Mobile home
A factory-built dwelling on a permanent chassis, built before June 15, 1976. There was no federal building code yet; quality varied wildly. Most carriers won’t write a pre-1976 home, and the ones that do (Foremost, American Modern, a few regionals) ask more questions and price higher.
Manufactured home
Same construction approach as a mobile home — factory-built, permanent chassis, transported to site — but built after June 15, 1976 to the federal HUD Code. The red HUD certification tag on the exterior is your proof. Specialty insurers love these.
Modular home
Built in sections at a factory, then assembled on a permanent foundation to the local building code (not HUD). Insurance-wise, modulars are usually treated like site-built homes — standard HO-3 policies, standard carriers.
If you’re not sure which you have, check the title and look for a HUD tag. Bring it up on your quote — getting this wrong is the #1 reason quotes come back at the wrong rate.