The Best Home Warranties for Mobile Homes of 2023

The best home warranty for mobile homes can serve as a valuable tool to provide mobile home owners with a simple solution for protecting their critical home systems and appliances.

By Katie Ziraldo | Updated Apr 25, 2023 11:23 AM

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The Best Home Warranties for Mobile Homes Options

Photo: istockphoto.com

A home is more than just a place to eat, sleep, and repeat. Whether mobile or stationary, a home is a place to relax, to gather, and to build a life. This is why so many homeowners choose to protect their safe space through a home warranty—a type of coverage that protects the home’s key systems and appliances in the event that repairs are needed.

While the best mobile home insurance providers offer coverage for certain events, such as theft and storm damage, a mobile home warranty can provide coverage for home systems and appliances when they break down due to age or normal wear and tear, providing valuable financial support to homeowners when repairs pop up. But with companies offering so many different types of home warranties with varying levels of coverage, it can be tricky for mobile home owners to know how to identify the options that are right for them. To fill in the gaps, this article covers everything mobile home owners need to know to find the best home warranties for mobile homes.

  1. BEST OVERALL: AFC Home Club
  2. RUNNER-UP: American Home Shield
  3. BEST CLAIMS PROCESS: Cinch Home Services
  4. BEST DISCOUNTS: Select Home Warranty
  5. ALSO CONSIDER: First American Home Warranty
The Best Home Warranties for Mobile Homes Options

Photo: istockphoto.com

What to Consider When Choosing One of the Best Home Warranty Companies for Mobile Homes

While some brands of mobile homes may offer a manufacturer’s warranty on a newly constructed mobile or modular home, this coverage is often limited. Even the best mobile home manufacturers typically only offer this type of coverage for about a year and a half, so those with older units and those seeking coverage beyond that time frame may need to seek out other options. This is where a home warranty can be a lifesaver. To choose the right home plan and provider, however, mobile home owners will need to consider the following factors.

Service Area

Before any other factors can be weighed, homeowners will first need to look at the service area of each home warranty company on their list to determine if the company they’re considering provides service in their area.

This may seem like an obvious statement, but with so many factors to consider, the simplest things sometimes get overlooked. To avoid the last-minute surprise of discovering their chosen provider does not service their area, homeowners will want to start their search here.

Coverage Amount

A coverage amount, also referred to as a coverage limit, refers to the amount of money the home warranty company is willing to pay on covered repairs. These limits may apply to the amount the company will pay for an individual repair or the total amount the company will pay annually.

Coverage amounts can vary dramatically among home warranty providers, so in addition to considering the types of repairs that are covered by each company, mobile home owners will also want to consider whether there is a dollar limit to the repairs that are covered. If a homeowner needs a repair that exceeds their home warranty company’s coverage limit, they will be on the hook to pay the difference, so this is an important piece to keep in mind.

Policies and Plans

No two home warranty companies are the same, with each one offering its own unique blend of standard coverage, optional add-ons, customer perks such as discounted system maintenance, and more. Each of these elements is important because they all impact the scope of the customer’s coverage.

To make matters even more complicated, most home warranty companies offer multiple plans and policies for potential customers to choose from, ranging from cost-effective plans with less extensive coverage to more costly options with a wider breadth of covered repairs. When gathering quotes, it can be easy for homeowners to take the first number they see at face value, but it’s important to remember that a company may have additional plans worth exploring before they move on to the next provider on the list.

Average Monthly Rate

To get an idea of what a home warranty will cost, homeowners will need to examine three things: average monthly rates, discount opportunities, and service fees. The first cost consideration, average monthly rates, refers to the up-front cost of home warranty coverage.

Homeowners typically pay a monthly rate in exchange for their coverage, although some may choose to pay for annual or multiyear policies in full. But regardless of how homeowners choose to pay them, the fact remains that rates vary widely among warranty companies for homes, making this one of the most important factors to weigh.

Discounts

Average monthly rates represent the cost of home warranty coverage, but many providers offer discounts that have the potential to lower this cost. From promotions encouraging new customers to open a policy to discounts for customers purchasing annual or multiyear policies up front, these offerings can make a significant difference in the overall cost of coverage. Therefore, these potential discounts need to be taken into account when budgeting for home warranty costs.

Much like the other factors on this list, discount opportunities vary widely across the industry, so homeowners will want to add this to their list of things to consider. After all, who doesn’t want to save money when they can?

Service Fee

The final cost consideration is the service fee. The service fee on a home warranty is the out-of-pocket cost the homeowner agrees to pay when scheduling repairs on their covered home systems and appliances. Similar to average rates, service fees will vary among home warranty companies, with some companies offering a flat service fee and others providing customers with multiple service fee options.

With the latter, it’s important to note that lower service fees typically require homeowners to pay higher monthly rates, while higher service fees come with lower monthly rates. Put in simple terms, this means that companies offering multiple service-fee options are asking customers to choose whether they would prefer to pay more up front in their monthly payment or at the time of service.

Quote Process

In addition to home warranty costs varying among companies, these costs also vary depending on location. In fact, the age, condition, and location of a home, as well as the scope of coverage needed, all will impact the rate a homeowner pays. This means that the general information available on a home warranty provider’s website may or may not represent what a specific homeowner would actually pay for their coverage.

Because of this, it’s important to take the time to gather quotes from multiple home warranty companies. These quotes can be tailored to each homeowner’s situation, including their home’s location and the type of coverage they need, providing a much more accurate assessment of what that coverage might cost for each provider. And as a bonus, the ease of the quote process can sometimes offer a glimpse at what prospective policyholders can expect if they select that company for their home warranty.

Claims Process

When sudden issues arise with a mobile home’s systems and appliances, homeowners with a home warranty are quick to contact their provider to schedule the necessary repairs, but how easy is it to submit a claim? How long does it take for the claim to be processed? Once the claim is processed, who chooses a technician, and how long will it take for them to actually show up? These are just a few of the things that impact the overall claims process, and the answers to these questions vary from provider to provider.

While nearly all home warranty companies accept claims online or over the phone, some have eliminated the phone option entirely, which may not be appealing to those who prefer to speak directly with a representative about their situation. Other differences include the length of the response time and the flexibility in choosing contractors, so to ensure a smooth claims process, prospective policyholders will want to consider these elements ahead of time.

Workmanship Guarantee

On a home warranty, a workmanship guarantee protects the homeowner in the event that a covered repair fails to resolve the underlying issue. Without a workmanship guarantee, a homeowner in this situation might be required to pay an additional service fee for new repair work to be completed, but with a workmanship guarantee, additional repairs to address the underlying issue are covered for the length of the guarantee.

In this way, workmanship guarantees have the potential to save homeowners from unexpected and expensive out-of-pocket costs. However, the length of a workmanship guarantee can vary from as little as 30 days to as long as several years depending on the home warranty company, so mobile home owners will want to make a note of this during their search.

Our Top Picks

To determine the best home warranty companies for mobile homes, we looked for providers with a variety of coverage options offered alongside affordable rates and service fees and a smooth, reliable claims process.

Best Overall

The Best Home Warranties for Mobile Homes Option AFC Home Club
Photo: afchomeclub.com

Why It Made the Cut: AFC Home Club offers low average rates that can be locked in for 5 years, flexible repair scheduling using service providers inside or outside a preferred network, and a lengthy workmanship guarantee.

Across each of its policy options, AFC Home Club offers a relatively low average monthly rate of $50. Though this number does not take into account any service add-ons the homeowner may need, it also does not reflect any applicable discounts, which implies this could be an affordable warranty option for mobile home owners. New AFC customers will also be able to lock in their rate for a 5 year period, meaning they won’t need to worry about any rate hikes if they choose to renew their policy within that window.

The company’s workmanship guarantee runs the full length of the plan, so with 1- and 3-year policies available, customers who choose AFC will be able to rest easy knowing their repair work is guaranteed for a long time. This is yet another way customers can potentially save money with AFC. Although the home warranty provider provides a preferred contractor network, it also allows customers to choose their own technician for repairs if preferred, which may be particularly appealing to mobile home owners who want to select a technician they trust who also has experience working on mobile homes. Potential customers will want to note that AFC Home Club requires annual HVAC tune-ups, so those purchasing a multiyear policy or renewing an annual policy will need to account for this extra out-of-pocket cost. However, annual HVAC maintenance can help prevent more costly issues down the road.
 

Specs

  • Service area: 49 states and Washington, D.C.
  • Average monthly rate: $50
  • Service fee: $75 to $125
  • Claims process: Online, phone
  • Workmanship guarantee: 1 or 3 years (depending on plan)

Pros

  • Low $50 average monthly rate
  • Long 1- or 3-year workmanship guarantee
  • Customer-selected technician option
  • 5-year monthly rate guarantee

Cons

  • Annual HVAC maintenance required

Runner-Up

The Best Home Warranties for Mobile Homes Option American Home Shield
Photo: ahs.com

Why It Made the Cut: American Home Shield’s credits include the company’s uncapped repair cost limits; baked-in coverage for rust, corrosion, and sediment buildup; and free or discounted HVAC tune-ups.

When reviewing American Home Shield’s average rates, it’s important to note that location plays a big role in price. The company’s rates can vary significantly from state to state, so depending on where homeowners are located, this provider could be an expensive or an affordable option. But although rates can vary, American Home Shield’s reliable coverage and unique offerings remain consistent across the country. Unlike many providers, American Home Shield does not place a cost limit on covered home system repairs, which means repair requests will not be denied solely due to costs exceeding a certain coverage amount. This is a major perk for customers who choose AHS, as they won’t need to worry about paying for expensive covered repairs out of pocket. The company’s home warranty plans also cover issues stemming from rust, corrosion, and sediment buildup—a rare offering that may appeal to mobile home owners, as mobile homes may be more susceptible to this type of damage.

The company’s workmanship guarantee is relatively short at just 30 days, which means customers could end up paying an additional service fee if a covered repair needs follow-up work more than a month after the fact, although AHS offers other benefits to its customers in the place of an extended guarantee.

Customers who select American Home Shield may also be able to take advantage of free or discounted HVAC tune-ups, depending on the policy they choose. The highest-level policy, ShieldPlatinum, gives customers the benefit of one free tune-up per year, while customers with all other plans can schedule a tune-up at a discounted rate. This offering not only adds more value to the home warranty, but it also has the potential to help customers keep their HVAC systems running properly to prevent costly problems from developing. Those who aren’t sure whether a home warranty for mobile homes is something they need may also be happy to learn that AHS customers can cancel their policy within the first 30 days of coverage and receive a full refund, assuming they haven’t used their coverage.
 

Specs

  • Service area: 49 states and Washington, D.C.
  • Average monthly rate: Varies
  • Service fee: $100 or $125
  • Claims process: Online, phone
  • Workmanship guarantee: 30 days

Pros

  • No cap on home system repair work
  • Rust, corrosion, and sediment buildup coverage included
  • Free or discounted HVAC tune-ups
  • 30-day money-back guarantee

Cons

  • Rates vary significantly depending on location
  • Relatively short 30-day workmanship guarantee

Best Claims Process

The Best Home Warranties for Mobile Homes Option Cinch Home Services
Photo: cinchhomeservices.com

Why It Made the Cut: Offering unique benefits such as coverage for rust, corrosion, and sediment buildup and a claims process designed to process repair requests in as little as 2 hours, Cinch Home Services stands out among the competition.

Cinch Home Services’ home warranty plans come with rates that can vary widely across the U.S., which means where a person’s home is located will strongly impact whether Cinch is an affordable option for mobile home coverage. The company’s service fees can also vary, with fees as high as $150 in certain circumstances. This may lead to Cinch customers paying more out of pocket when home repairs are needed; however, this higher fee may seem worth it to some in exchange for the speed and quality of services.

The company vows to begin contacting service technicians in as little as 2 hours after receiving a service request during normal business hours or within 24 hours for requests received on weekends and holidays. This is a quick turnaround time for home warranty claims, which may be particularly helpful if and when urgent repairs are needed. Customers who do not file a claim within the first 9 months of their policy will instead receive the benefit of a free HVAC tune-up, which can be scheduled through the company’s preferred network. This adds even more value to a Cinch home warranty.

One of Cinch’s most unique qualities is the fact that the company will cover repair jobs related to rust, corrosion, and sediment, which isn’t often the case with home warranties. This feature allows for a wider range of repairs to be covered and paid for by the home warranty plan, thereby increasing its value for mobile home owners.
 

Specs

  • Service area: 48 states and Washington, D.C.
  • Average monthly rate: Varies
  • Service fee: $100 to $150
  • Claims process: Online, phone
  • Workmanship guarantee: 180 days

Pros

  • Rust, corrosion, and sediment coverage included
  • Quick response within 2 hours of service request possible
  • Free HVAC tune-up offered in some cases

Cons

  • Rates vary significantly depending on location
  • Relatively high $150 service fee possible

Best Discounts

The Best Home Warranties for Mobile Homes Option Select Home Warranty
Photo: selecthomewarranty.com

Why It Made the Cut: Discounts and promotions are plentiful with Select Home Warranty, which offers 2 extra months of coverage free of charge to homeowners who pay up front for a full year’s policy.

In addition to offering reasonable rates, Select Home Warranty rewards customers who choose to pay for a full year’s worth of coverage up front with 2 extra months of coverage at no additional cost. This means customers who pay up front for their policy will get 14 months of coverage while only paying for 12, adding more value to the policy. This is just one of the ways homeowners can save by choosing Select. The company is also known for consistently running promotions for new customers, offering discounts that can significantly lower the cost of coverage, making this an affordable option for many mobile home owners.

The offset of this affordability may be found in Select Home Warranty’s claims process. In addition to offering no option to submit a claim over the phone, which may be inconvenient for those who are less comfortable submitting claims digitally, the company’s terms and conditions note that response times on repair requests could run as long as 4 days, particularly if the request is submitted on a weekend or holiday. This is a long time to wait when repairs are needed, although response times may be faster for claims submitted during regular business hours. Select offers its customers a list of service-fee options ranging from $75 to $100, which gives customers the flexibility to choose to pay a lower service fee at the time of repairs if preferred.
 

Specs

  • Service area: 47 states and Washington, D.C.
  • Average monthly rate: $62
  • Service fee: $75 to $100
  • Claims process: Online, email
  • Workmanship guarantee: 60 days

Pros

  • 2 months of free coverage with annual payment
  • Frequent promotional discounts
  • Low $75 to $100 service fee

Cons

  • No phone option for submitting claims
  • Relatively slow claim response of up to 96 hours after receiving service request

Also Consider

The Best Home Warranties for Mobile Homes Option First American Home Warranty
Photo: homewarranty.firstam.com

Why It Made the Cut: Offering lower rates for mobile home coverage and allowing customers to receive a full refund when canceling their policy within 30 days, First American Home Warranty is an option worth considering.

First American Home Warranty offers a relatively affordable average rate of $59 per month, but according to the company’s sample contracts, customers who own mobile homes will be eligible to receive even lower rates on their home warranty coverage when compared with those who have single-family houses. However, it’s important to note that First American’s coverage area is relatively small relative to that of other companies, offering service in only 35 states and Washington, D.C., so customers will need to double-check whether their area is serviced by the company before adding it to their short list.

First American Home Warranty’s workmanship guarantee only lasts for 30 days, which is relatively short and could lead to mobile home owners paying more than one service fee if they discover issues with a covered repair after those 30 days have passed. However, like its monthly rates, the company’s service fees are on the low side, which may make this worth the trade-off for some.

Alongside affordability, First American offers its customers flexibility, allowing customers to cancel their home warranty policy within 30 days and receive a full refund, provided they have not had any repair work done through the home warranty. This knowledge might be comforting to mobile home owners who worry about the commitment of signing up for a year-long policy and prefer the flexibility to back out of their agreement if they change their mind.
 

Specs

  • Service area: 35 states and Washington, D.C.
  • Average monthly rate: $59
  • Service fee: $75 to $125
  • Claims process: Online, phone
  • Workmanship guarantee: 30 days

Pros

  • Lower rates for mobile home properties
  • 30-day money-back guarantee

Cons

  • Small service area covering 35 states and Washington, D.C.
  • Relatively short 30-day workmanship guarantee

Our Verdict

We gave the award for Best Overall to AFC Home Club due to the company’s low average rates, rate lock, extended workmanship guarantee, and the flexibility for customers to choose their own technician. The Runner-Up award goes to American Home Shield because of its uncapped repair cost limit; baked-in coverage for rust, corrosion, and sediment buildup; free or discounted HVAC tune-ups, and 30-day money-back guarantee.

How We Chose the Best Home Warranty Companies for Mobile Homes

To find the best companies offering a mobile home warranty, we began our search by looking at the availability of each provider’s services, including the service area and the scope of coverage offered. The types of repairs and dollar amount covered by each company were considered, and we took into account the specific types of coverage that might be valuable to mobile home owners.

Our research also involved weighing cost factors such as monthly rates, service-fee options, and potential discounts that could lower the overall cost of coverage. To understand the customer experience, we analyzed the claims process, including how claims are submitted, how long claims take to process, how contractors are selected, and how long the workmanship guarantee lasts for repair work.

Before You Choose One of the Best Home Warranty Companies for Mobile Homes

Mobile home owners may wonder whether they even need a home warranty because there are so many factors to consider. The age, location, and overall condition of the home will all play a role in determining whether a home warranty is worth it for each mobile home owner. An individual homeowner’s tolerance for risk will also be a factor, as those who are more averse to risk may feel more comfortable having the protection provided by a home warranty.

To determine their coverage needs, homeowners will want to take stock of the systems and appliances in their home that may be at risk, such as an out-of-date mobile home refrigerator or aging HVAC system. Once homeowners have a handle on the scope of coverage they need, they can begin obtaining quotes and comparing coverage options across companies to select the policy that best aligns with their needs and their wallets.

Cost of Opting for One of the Best Home Warranty Companies for Mobile Homes

Because the precise cost of coverage depends so heavily on the specific home and its location, home warranty costs can vary widely across the country, from as little as $264 to as much as $1,425 annually, with the national average sitting between $300 and $600 depending on the coverage options selected by the homeowner.

Coverage for mobile homes will fall within this range as well, although it’s important to note that these average costs primarily reflect home warranty rates and not their service fees, which can be less predictable. Because of this, it’s important for mobile home owners to gather quotes from multiple companies and take the time to compare average rates, service fees, and discounts to get a true understanding of the policy’s total expected costs.

The Advantages of Opting for One of the Best Home Warranty Companies for Mobile Homes

From cost savings to peace of mind, the best home warranties come with a long list of advantages. When critical home systems or appliances need repairs, a home warranty can mean the difference between a quick resolution and a long, drawn-out process. It can also make the difference between a small out-of-pocket cost and a massive one.

Mobile home owners who are still unsure whether they want to pay for a home warranty will want to consider the benefits that come with this type of coverage, including:

  • Protection on systems and appliances for mobile homes, which may bring peace of mind to homeowners who cannot afford to pay out of pocket for expensive repairs;
  • Predictable monthly costs for service, which may make it easier to plan and budget when compared with the unexpected repair costs homeowners face without a warranty; and
  • Access to a preferred network of contractors, eliminating the need for homeowners to search for trusted technicians in their area when repairs are needed.

FAQs

Choosing the right mobile home warranty plan and provider is an important task, so it’s understandable that homeowners may have lingering questions on the topic. Understanding the following frequently asked questions may ease some of these common concerns and guide homeowners through the selection process.

Q. Do home warranties for mobile homes cover the same repairs as traditional home warranties?

In general, home warranty coverage for mobile homes protects the same systems and appliances as home warranty coverage for single-family homes.

Q. How long do home warranties for mobile homes last on average?

A mobile, or manufactured, home warranty can be purchased month-to-month, annually, or in the form of a multiyear plan depending on the provider.

Q. Is there anything that home warranties for mobile homes do not cover?

Home warranties cover issues related to the home’s key systems and appliances, so cosmetic issues, such as mobile home carpet replacement or replacing light fixtures for mobile homes, will not be covered.

Q. Do home warranties for mobile homes cover plumbing repairs?

Home warranties typically cover plumbing, including repairs on pipes and other plumbing fixtures.

Q. Will home warranties for mobile homes transfer to a new owner if I sell my mobile home?

Although home warranties do not automatically transfer when homeowners sell their property to a new owner, most companies will transfer the policy when asked.

Q. Do home warranties for mobile homes cover anything related to the yard or surrounding land?

Home warranty coverage protects the home’s internal systems and appliances, though add-on coverage can be purchased for sprinkler systems, external septic systems, and other items on the property. Common areas in mobile-home parks are typically excluded from this coverage.