Insuring older mobile homes — particularly those built before June 15, 1976 when HUD’s Federal Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards took effect — is possible but more challenging and expensive. Pre-HUD homes lack the structural standards that modern insurers use to assess risk, so many major carriers decline to cover them entirely. Those that do typically offer only actual cash value coverage (no replacement cost) and may impose strict requirements about condition, tie-downs, and updates to electrical or plumbing systems. In states like Tennessee and Mississippi, specialty carriers and surplus lines insurers are often the best option for pre-HUD homes.
For homes built after 1976 but still 20+ years old, coverage is more readily available but premiums will be higher and coverage limits may be lower. Some insurers will require a home inspection before binding coverage on older units. Upgrades such as new roofing, updated electrical panels, or a new HVAC system can help bring down your premium or qualify you for better coverage. The Manufactured Housing Institute provides resources on renovation standards. Contact Bridgeway Insurance — we work with specialty carriers who cover older manufactured homes across all 7 states we serve.
