Partial Serial number

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I have been reading your posts regarding older mobile homes and trying to get insurance on a home where we do not know the manufacturer or serial number. We purchased a 2.5 acre property (CA) with a 4 bedroom mobile home (1979)and 3 other stick buildings. We have recently had a fire on our property and had some fire damage and a lot of smoke damage. Our insurance coverage was great and we are able to fix everything however, they have cancelled our policy and we are trying to get new insurance. We have a metal tag that came off when we were putting in air conditioning duct work and we have a partial serial number and that is all we have. It is CAFL2B9080916
Not sure how many more numbers there should be, is there any way to find out the complete serial number and manufacturer with this number?

[David Oxhandler]

If the home was built after 1976, the serial number is on the backing plate. This is the piece of steel that runs across the front of the home, and to which the hitch would be attached.

The code is clear on this issue. The serial number must be 3/8" in height, and be located on the foremost crossmember, numbers must not be stamped into hitches or draw members. They cover with rust, will be behind skirting, and will be difficult to find, but they are there.

The metal tag you have is most likely the HUD inspection plate which looks like this:


The Institute for Building Technology and Safety (IBTS), as the Department of Housing and Urban Development's monitoring contractor under the Federal Manufactured Housing Program, is required to maintain all reported certification label applications, and has been the sole source of this data since 1976 Visit their HUD Label Verification page. There may be a chance they can recover the serial number with a partial inspection plate number.


Most states have programs for "retiring" a MH title". They also have methods for reinstating a MH title. The serial number can often be found recorded with the local property appraiser, on permit applications from the time the home was installed, and on insurance and sales documents. Dig into your records. Call the local building permit and tax assessors office.

[fredcdobbs]

CAFL2B9080916

This is a California Fleetwood serial number

[Lori]

For Insurance - all companies tell us they go to Foremost Insurance Company. To save money, we go to them directly. 1-800-752-2461. They do older mobile homes too. Something to think about that I recently learned and have changed our policy. You want to get insurance that covers the replacement value and do the rider for your property. If you do not do this, then if something happened (anything) then you will only get the depreciation value which is nothing. Replacement value, they have to replace the mobile home and contents for what it would cost for that type of item. We had a problem in our home and the claim adjustor who came out was surprised that we did not have replacement value and gave me a whole education. The cost was hardly anything per yr.

[David Oxhandler]

Foremost is a great company if they are writing in your area. Here in Florida they stopped taking new applications. If you want to get the best coverage for your location see MobileHomeInsuranceQuote.com