Updated Jan 31, 2023
Updated Jan 31, 2023
Mobile homes have become increasingly popular among first-time homebuyers as a more affordable alternative to traditional site-built homes.
Beyond their standard systems and appliances, manufactured homes have a few unique features that will require routine maintenance and eventual replacements — like nearly flat roofs, below-floor plumbing systems, and exterior skirting.
Yet after purchasing a home, most people are too strapped for cash to cover urgent home repairs upfront. Fortunately, a mobile home warranty can easily save you three figures per year on the cost of servicing an out-of-order appliance or system.
Read on to find out what a mobile home warranty covers, how it’ll save you money in the long run, and our picks for the top five best home warranty companies for mobile and manufactured homes.
House Method researched over 40 carriers offering mobile home coverage and hand-selected five home warranty companies for their generous annual coverage limits, transparent claims processes, and generally positive customer testimonials from accredited sources like the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
Here is our refined list of the home warranty industry’s top contenders:
Why Trust House Method
House Method’s Experts collected and analyzed 2000+ critical data points to identify what makes a great home warranty company in the eye of the consumer. Our reviews team used this data to assess over 60 home warranty providers for coverage extent, annual cost, and national availability to provide unbiased reviews so homeowners can confidently navigate key decisions about their homes.
For over 14 years, Choice Home Warranty (CHW) has remained a leading name in the home warranty category for its low-cost, customizable coverage for all types of residential properties, including mobile and manufactured homes. CHW is named our “best overall” home warranty company for mobile homes with a score of 4.9/5 because of its coverage on older manufactured homes, low-cost premiums for those looking to save on system and appliance breakdowns, and coverage across multiple types of mobile homes.
Whether you own a single-, double- or triple-wide, Choice Home Warranty offers the same coverage dimensions for mobile homes as it does for stick-built houses. CHW’s two standard manufactured home warranty plans — Basic and Total — cover mobile homes under 5,000 square feet. Coverage for properties over 5,000 square feet is available through Choice, but for an additional payment.
Fill out this form or call 929-400-6164 to get a free quote from Choice Home Warranty.
Read our full Choice Home Warranty review for more.
Select Home Warranty (SHW) is the perfect provider for mobile homeowners who simply can’t resist a good deal. SHW was awarded our “most cost-effective plans” home warranty and 4.8/5 stars due to its competitively priced policies, lower-than-average service call fees, and series of seasonal discounts available to all mobile home owners.
Mobile homeowners who sign up with Select Home Warranty will have exclusive access to $150 off one of three standard plan levels, two months of free coverage, and complimentary roof leak protection. Also, if you ever decide to move out of your mobile home, SHW will transfer your policy to your new address free of charge.
For a free quote from Select Home Warranty, fill out this online form or call 888-370-3953.
Read our full Select Home Warranty review for more details.
Founded in 1971, American Home Shield (AHS) has been protecting manufactured homes under 5,000 square feet since before the HUD code went into effect in 1976. With a customer base of over 2 million homeowners, AHS offers some of the most customizable plans on the market.
According to our methodology, we rated AHS 4.7/5 as the “best customizable plans” for mobile homeowners due to the ability to tailor coverages to the needs of a manufactured home. Some mobile homeowners may not have or fit all the systems and appliances of a larger home, making customizable protection a must.
American Home Shield’s standard coverage is branched off into three plan levels — ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum — from least comprehensive to most. Mobile homeowners who enroll in Shield Platinum have exclusive access to limited roof leak coverage, one free HVAC tune-up per year, and unlimited A/C refrigerant.
Also, AHS allows customers to choose their service fees of $75, $100, or $125. With a lower service fee comes a higher monthly premium and vice versa.
For a free quote from American Home Shield, fill out this online form or call 888-365-2839.
To learn more about AHS, visit our American Home Shield review.
We highly recommend The Home Service Club (HSC) to anyone in the process of buying or selling a manufactured home. Our experts named HSC the home warranty provider with “quickest service” and scored it a 4.6/5 due to the short ten-day waiting period required after sign-up, about two weeks shorter than most competing providers. New mobile home owners can promptly access their HSC home warranty benefits after closing.
For customers on the seller’s side, The Home Service Club offers free listing coverage to help boost the marketability of your mobile home while also protecting you from breakdowns that might occur while your property is under contract.
HSC splits its coverage into two clear-cut Standard and Comprehensive Coverage plans with three service call fee options of $60, $75, or $95.
To get a free quote from The Home Service Club, fill out this online form or call 800-842-9334.
Continue reading about HSC in our complete The Home Service Club review.
As one of the very few providers with an A rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), (LHG) has earned its spot as the most trustworthy home warranty company in the industry and a score of 4.5/5 according to our methodology.
Both because of its credibility and easy-to-understand policy structure, we’d most recommend LHG to first-time mobile homeowners who are new to home warranties.
Liberty Home Guard keeps the sign-up process painless with its tri-fold standard coverage. Customers will have the option to choose between an appliance plan, a systems plan, or a two-for-one package that combines both. LHG policyholders also have access to 41+ elective coverage add-ons for everything from light fixtures to gutter cleaning.
To get a free quote from Liberty Home Guard, fill out this online form or call 866-451-2281.
Continue reading about LHG in our Liberty Home Guard review.
A mobile home warranty is a renewable service contract that guarantees discounted repairs and replacements for specified household features within your manufactured home as they break down due to age-related damage.
Most home warranty agreements only include coverage for a select variety of major appliances and systems in their standard plans. Still, they may offer optional add-ons for customers looking to maximize their policy.
When a covered item breaks down from age or normal wear and tear, home warranty customers pay their provider’s pre-approved contractor a reasonably small service fee instead of the full cost to repair a system or appliance.
Because mobile homes are typically pre-fabricated, meaning they’re mass-produced in factory settings, most are covered by a limited-time manufacturer’s warranty as soon as the installation is complete.
This short-term warranty usually lasts between one and three years and only covers functional failures in new homes due to factory defects and improper installation. While a home warranty won’t cover pre-existing conditions, it does offer more comprehensive coverage for major appliances, systems, and other areas throughout the home year after year.
Any owner of a manufactured or mobile home should consider a mobile home warranty. As we’ve covered, newly manufactured homes may be guaranteed under a builder’s or extended warranty, arguably giving you the first few years of ownership to identify your coverage needs.
But for homeowners who perhaps purchased a used manufactured home with older chattels and fixtures, a mobile home warranty will safeguard your finances against likely repair and replacement costs.
A mobile home warranty is also a valuable investment for homeowners new to the area. With a home protection plan, your service provider will automatically connect you with a reputable, pre-screened technician — no research required on your part.
Investing in a mobile home warranty is also a smart move if:
Depending on the level of coverage you choose, a home warranty plan can cover anything from large appliances like refrigerators, dishwashers, and washing machines, to major systems such as HVAC, electrical, and plumbing.
Here are some other common items that are covered under a mobile home warranty:
Cost to repair | Cost to replace | Savings with warranty | |
Furnace | $285 | $4,249 | $1,500 |
Air conditioner | $347 | $5,413 | $1,500 |
Plumbing | $305 | $1,038 | $643 |
Toilet | $216 | $370 | $656 |
Electrical system | $317 | $1,287 | $500 |
Refrigerator | $310 | $1,925 | $1,385 |
Oven/range/stove/cooktop | $150 | $1,675 | $1,400 |
Built-in microwave | $125 | $408 | $1,485 |
Washing machine | $310 | $1,250 | $1,600 |
Dryer | $250 | $1,075 | $1,600 |
Though itemized inclusions and exclusions vary between providers, most mobile home warranties generally share the same coverage guidelines, in that most will only cover items that are:
A standard mobile home warranty policy costs about $30 to $60 per month or $360 to $720 per year. Homeowners who choose to add elective coverage riders for extra items like septic system or roof leak coverage should expect a $20+ increase in their premium.
On top of a set monthly or annual premium, policyholders will also be charged a service call fee, ranging between $60 and $125, depending on the provider. Some companies, like American Home Shield, allow customers to choose their service fee from a sampling of deductible options, while other carriers like Select Home Warranty charge a fixed amount.
Fortunately, most contracts guarantee home repairs for at least 30 days, so you won’t be charged for follow-up service requests if the problem persists after the maintenance appointment.
The amount you’ll pay for a mobile home warranty depends on several factors, including:
As you window shop for the best mobile home warranty plan for you, we strongly recommend getting quotes from a few different providers so you can compare pricing and select a policy that falls within your budget.
Aside from protecting your major home systems and appliances, a mobile home warranty has a few other perks:
Choice Home Warranty currently has the best home warranty options for mobile homes with cost-effective yet comprehensive coverage. Offering two base plan options accompanied by a la carte coverage riders, CHW keeps its policy framework simple while still leaving ample room to build out your policy as you see fit.
A home warranty is an optional service contract that covers repairs and replacements of appliances and systems when they break due to normal wear and tear or age. Homeowners insurance is a policy required by mortgage lenders that covers the cost to repair or rebuild your property in the event of natural disasters, like tornadoes, hurricanes, or fires.
A one-year warranty is standard in the home warranty industry, but some companies like Select Home Warranty will offer customers discounts for enrolling in three-to-five-year home warranty plans.
Yes. Because older homes can have a lot of unknowns and defects that go undetected during the home inspection process, investing in a home warranty provides you with an added layer of financial protection against unforeseen maintenance and repair costs.
A home warranty won’t cover pre-existing damages or any damage to your systems and appliances resulting from improper installation or maintenance. Cosmetic defects (scratches, dings, etc.), issues at non-residential properties, and remediation for toxic materials like mold, asbestos, or lead paint also aren’t included in home warranty coverage.
Adding mobile home warranty coverage from a reputable provider on top of your home insurance policy will ultimately save you more money in the long run.
No matter how disciplined you are with routine tune-ups around your home, all appliances and systems will inevitably break down over time. And realistically, it’s far more likely these items will fail to function properly due to normal wear and tear rather than sustaining damage from a natural disaster. If you’re focused on getting your money’s worth, the yearly cost of a home warranty pays for itself within one to two repairs or replacements of an appliance or system.
At House Method, transparency and trust are our most important values for the reader. We’ve done the homework for you and have researched over 50 home warranty companies so you can have the information you need to make the best choice for your home.
Our team spent hours on the phone speaking to representatives from each home warranty company to get information right from the source. We also dug into the fine print on each company’s service agreement to ensure no detail was left out.
To make the most of our research, we developed an objective rating system to score each home warranty company based on the following criteria:
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