Get the coverage you need to protect your lifestyle
Reviewed by Eric EstevezReviewed by Eric Estevez
Tiny houses have gained popularity across the United States since they are affordable, energy efficient, and easy to maintain. Tiny homes also offer a simpler lifestyle, with little room for clutter or things you don’t need.
However, despite their diminutive size, tiny homes can cost tens—or even hundreds—of thousands of dollars. As a result, it’s important to protect your investment with a tiny home insurance policy. Here’s what you need to know about insurance for your tiny home.
Key Takeaways
- Tiny houses are usually between 100 and 400 square feet.
- You can insure your tiny house, but the type of policy can depend on how the house was built and whether it will be mobile or stationary.
- It’s important to consider insurance before building a tiny house to ensure you’re covered for dwelling damage from weather events and personal liability.
What Is a Tiny House?
A tiny house is a much smaller version of a traditional house. While there are no official size limits, tiny houses tend to be between 100 and 400 square feet. However, the zoning laws can differ by state. With the rising cost of housing, some states allow for tiny homes up to 800 square feet and two dwelling units.
By comparison, the median size of newly constructed single-family homes in 2023 was 2,233 square feet, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Tiny houses are either stationary or on wheels and, therefore, moveable. This distinction and how you use the home determine the type of insurance you need.
RV Insurance for Tiny Houses
RV insurance may be the right choice if your tiny house is on wheels and you plan to move around frequently because it covers your home while it’s parked and during transport. As RV insurance is designed for travelers, it includes provisions that some other options don’t, such as collision coverage. To qualify for RV insurance, the tiny house must meet standards from the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA).
Basic RV policies typically include these types of coverage:
- Collision: Covers your tiny house if damaged in an accident with an object or another vehicle, regardless of fault.
- Comprehensive: Also known as “other than collision.” Covers events beyond your control, such as theft, vandalism, fire, falling objects, weather-related incidents, and collisions with animals.
- Liability: It helps pay for property damages and injuries that you cause.
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist: Covers you if someone with insufficient or no insurance hits your tiny home and pays for damages to your home, personal injuries, and lost wages if you can’t work.
- Personal property: Covers your personal property if lost, damaged, or destroyed.
- Medical payment: Covers medical bills for you and your passengers if your tiny house is in an accident.
Warning
If you use your tiny house as a full-time residence, be sure to buy a “full-timer’s” policy.
Not all insurance companies offer the same coverage options, so review your policy to ensure it provides the coverage you need. If it doesn’t, fill in the gaps with endorsements or a separate policy. For example, if your policy doesn’t cover personal liability, you could get a cheap renter’s insurance policy to cover both your personal liability and property.
Mobile Home Policies for Tiny Houses
A mobile or manufactured home insurance policy can be used to insure your tiny house, provided you do not plan on moving your home on a regular basis. A comprehensive mobile home insurance policy covers the home, your personal property, and liability, similar to standard homeowners insurance.
However, unlike RV insurance, mobile home insurance doesn’t cover the home or your belongings while your tiny house is in transport. For that, you’ll need a transit endorsement. The policy must be in place before you transport your tiny house, which means you must inform your insurance company before you plan to move so it can update your policy.
Laws and insurance requirements can vary by state and insurer. For example, insurance companies may require the home to be factory-built and NOAH-certified, which means the home has passed a safety inspection so it can withstand weather events, such as hurricanes and snowstorms.
Another option for mobile home insurance is a named peril policy. These comparatively inexpensive policies cover specific causes of loss named in the policy—and nothing else. However, if your house is damaged by a peril not listed in the policy, the repair costs will come out of your pocket. Thus, while you can save money with a named peril policy, it can come with added risks.
Note
Mobile home insurance may cover water leaks in certain situations; however, most policies don’t cover damage caused by any water leaks due to a lack of maintenance.
Tiny House Insurance Specialists
A handful of small companies offer tiny-house–specific coverage, but that number may increase, given the growing popularity of tiny homes.
These companies generally offer coverage for any traditional or alternative living structures, including DIY units, off-the-grid cabins, micro homes, storage container homes, park models, custom RVs, and accessory dwelling units (ADUs). Some companies offer tiny house construction insurance, and most will insure tiny houses that aren’t built to RVIA standards or haven’t been certified by NOAH.
As these companies are tiny house–specific, they tend to offer the most options and greatest flexibility. It might take a little back and forth with a representative, but you should be able to get the exact coverage you need for your tiny home.
Do I Need Insurance for My Tiny House?
If you used a mortgage or other loan to finance your tiny house, your mortgage lender might require you to buy insurance, similar to traditional homes and cars. And if you transport your tiny home, most states require you to have liability coverage—just as for a regular RV.
Otherwise, there’s no legal requirement for you to insure your tiny house. Still, a tiny house is a serious investment, making it good financial sense to protect it with an insurance policy.
How Much Does Tiny House Insurance Cost?
There’s no set price for tiny house insurance. It depends on numerous factors, including:
- Your tiny home’s construction, size, value, and RVIA or NOAH status
- The value of your personal belongings
- How you plan to use the home (e.g., parked in a tiny house community or on the road 52 weeks a year)
- The coverage you want, including any extras, such as a trip endorsement
- Your claims history
- Your credit history
RV policies generally tend to be more expensive than mobile home insurance because the former protects the home while it’s in transport—which puts the home at a much greater risk than if it were simply parked somewhere. And, of course, the cost also depends on the coverage limits and deductible you choose.
Important
If you plan to rent out a tiny house, be sure to discuss your options with an insurance representative. You may need a different type of policy.
What Type of Insurance Do You Need for a Tiny House?
A standard homeowners insurance policy does not cover tiny houses. Instead, you’ll need to buy a mobile home or RV insurance. Mobile or manufactured home insurance can cover your tiny house, provided you don’t move the home regularly.
Does RV Insurance Cover a Tiny Home?
RV insurance can cover your tiny home on wheels if you plan to transport it frequently.
What Is the Average Cost of a Tiny Home?
The cost of a tiny home varies, depending on the square footage, amenities, and location. A tiny home can cost approximately $23,000 on average.
The Bottom Line
Tiny house living isn’t for everyone, but those who embrace it can enjoy benefits such as a lower cost of living, the freedom to move and try out new places, a smaller carbon footprint, and the ability to get off the grid. Just remember to research and buy a good insurance policy to protect your home—and your lifestyle—before you start enjoying your tiny house.
Read the original article on Investopedia.