Manufactured home HUD tags and data plates are confusing because there are so many different names used to describe the same thing. For example, a HUD Tag is also called a Construction Code Label, a Certification Label, or a HUD Label.
Mobile and manufactured homes have serial numbers and HUD numbers as well, which just adds to the confusion.
No worries, though, this article should help you make sense of it all.
Topics
- The 2 Labels and 2 Numbers Every Mobile Home Owner Should Understand
- Manufactured Home HUD Tags
- Certification Label Number
- Manufactured Home Data Plates 101
- A Data Plate is Just a Piece of Paper
- The Data Plate will include the following information:
- HUD Label Number
- Where is the Data Plate Located?
- How to Get a New Data Plate or ‘Performance Verification Certificate’
- Institute for Building Technology and Safety
- Manufactured Home Serial Numbers 101
- What Does Each Digit Mean in the Serial Number?
- Conclusion
The 2 Labels and 2 Numbers Every Mobile Home Owner Should Understand
A mobile or manufactured home will have 2 main identifiers: a HUD tag and a data plate.
The HUD tag has the certification label on it and the data plate has both the serial number and the code certification number on it.
The data plate is a white piece of paper usually found on the back side of a kitchen cabinet door. It’s easy to identify because it has a map of the United States on it.
Manufactured Home HUD Tags
A HUD tag, also called a certification tag, is a 2”x4” piece of metal riveted onto the backside of a manufactured home. It verifies that the home was inspected by a 3rd party agency before it left the factory and met all the requirements set by HUD in the Federal Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards law.
Federal law requires that every manufactured home built since 1976 have one before it can be moved from the factory.
Tags are placed about a foot up from the bottom and a foot from the edge on the back of each section of the home. Like this:
The metal tag is usually red with silver text but the color fades away fairly quickly to a dull silver.
The same paragraph is on every tag but the certification label number stamped into the metal will be unique to each home.
The certification label number identifies the production inspection primary inspection agency (explained below).
The tag reads:
The manufacturer certifies to the best of the manufacturer’s knowledge and belief that this manufactured home has been inspected in accordance with the requirements of Department of Housing and Urban Development and is constructed in conformance with the federal manufactured home construction and safety standards in effect on the date of manufacture. See data plate.
Certification Label Number
Per HUD’s online portal, the first three lettersmean:
The label number shall be etched or stamped with a 3 letter designation which identifies the production inspection primary inspection agency and which the Secretary shall assign.
But, what exactly does “the production inspection primary inspection agency’ mean?
It’s just the third party inspection agency that inspected the home at the factory.
The 6 digit number is simply stamped sequentially by the label maker and used as an identifier for the home.
Related: Learn about the3 Levels of Manufactured Homes Quality and Pricehere.
Manufactured Home Data Plates 101
A manufactured homeData Plate isn’t a plate, it’s a sheet of paperinside your kitchen cabinet or bedroom closet.
A Data Plate is Just a Piece of Paper
A Data Plate is the white paper you see glued to the wall or cabinet. It has a bunch of really important information along with a simple line map of the United States. The paper is 8.5″ x 11″ and looks like this:
The Data Plate will include the following information:
- Manufacturer, or builders, name, and address.
- Date the home was built.
- Serial number
- Model number
- Code Certification – Identifies the Federal HUD Manufactured Housing Code in effect at time of construction (Source)
The data plate also has information about the home’s construction. Roof and floor load and wind zone details will be listed.
Data plates will also have the inspection agency’s information. These agencies use codes to identify the company’s name. Only a few companies are certified to do HUD home inspections. They cannot be affiliated with the builder at all.
HUD Label Number
The first 3 letters are the third party inspector that inspected, passed, and labeled the home at the factory.
For example, GEO means it was inspected by Georgia and the label’s number will provide the exact factory information based on records. A few more examples:
- HWC = Hilborn, Werner, Carter & Associates, Inc.
- PFS = PFS Corporation
- NTA = NTA, Inc.
- RAD = RADCO
- TRA = T. R. Arnold and Associates, Inc.
- GEO = the state of Georgia
- TEN = the state of Tennessee
Here’s how HUD explains all the information displayed on the Date Plate:
(a) The name and address of the manufacturing plant in which the manufactured home was manufactured;
(b) The serial number and model designation of the unit, and the date the unit was manufactured;
(c) The statement: This manufactured home is designed to comply with the Federal Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards in force at the time of manufacture;
(d) A list of the certification label(s) number(s) that are affixed to each transportable manufactured section under §3280.8;
(e) A list of major factory-installed equipment, including the manufacturer’s name and the model designation of each appliance;
(f) Reference to the roof load zone and wind load zone for which the home is designed and duplicates of the maps as set forth in §3280.305(c).
Where is the Data Plate Located?
By federal law, all manufactured homes must have a data plateattached inside the home. It can be put in several different places:
- inside of a cabinet door in the kitchen
- the back wall of the small bedroom closet or master bedroom closet
- inside your water heater closet
- on the inside of a bathroom cabinet door
FYI: DATA PLATES SHOULD NEVER BE REMOVED!
If you replace your cabinets or plan to remove the wall that has the Data Plate you should carefully remove and attach the paper to a different area of the home (in another cabinet or closet, for example).
You should protect the Data Plate, by all means necessary. Losing it can keep you from financing, selling, improving, or repairing your home. Some professionals suggest adding a thick clear piece of laminate over it so that it cannot fall off or be destroyed.
Is it a mobile home or a manufactured home?
How to Get a New Data Plate or ‘Performance Verification Certificate’
If you are missing your data plate and need it to meet your state or local laws for property sells, improvements, etc. you will need to request and pay for a new one through the IBTS.
Institute for Building Technology and Safety
The IBTS, or Institute for Building Technology and Safety, is a long-term HUD subcontractor that handles all requests for missing manufactured home Data Plates. If you need a new Data Plate for a manufactured home you will submit the request directly to the IBTS, not HUD. Oh, you will also be paying the IBTS for the new data plate and it isn’t cheap. The basic certification is $50 and if you need it expedited you get to pay $100.
Your bank may require an inspection of the home for refinancing, learn aboutmanufactured home inspectionhere.
Manufactured Home Serial Numbers 101
All manufactured homes have a serial number assigned to it. It’s important for many reasons.
Your serial number will be clearly displayed on your home’s data plate or stamped into the steel cross member where the hitch is attached to for each section of the home.
If your home is a double wide, it will have the same serial number but a letter at the end. but there will be an A used for one section and B for the other section.
Vehicle history is associated with their VIN and so are manufactured homes. In addition to VINs, manufactured homes also have serial numbers
VIN, or vehicle identification number will be the same thing.
What Does Each Digit Mean in the Serial Number?
I get this question at least a few times every month. Fortunately, Mcgarry and Madsen designed a handy image that explains each digit in a manufactured home serial number:
- The first three digits representthe factory where the home was built.
- After the three digits, there are two letters that represent the state where the home was built.
- After the state abbreviation, you have the six digits that represent the manufactured home’s serial number.
- A double wide will use the same number but one section will be identified with an A and the other section with a B (C if it’s a triple wide) that represents each section of the home.
Conclusion
Buying a used mobile home is a pain in all honesty. Even after you think you’ve found the right home you have to deal with mobile home titles, inspections, appraisals, insurance, and lenders. Even cash sales are difficult.
However, it will all be worth it in the end. You will be able to live in a home you can afford without working 3 jobs to pay for!
If you plan on purchasing and moving a mobile home you found a good deal on, it’s important to know how to verify all of the tags, plates and labels are in order. If you encounter a service likehttps://www.a1autotransport.com/mobile-home-movers/, they will be able to verify everything is in working order and get your new mobile home right to where you need it to go.
Thank you so much for reading Mobile Home Living!
Image Source: McGarry and Madsen
FAQs
Is the VIN and serial number the same on a mobile home? ›
1) There is a paper sticker on the interior of all mobile homes manufactured since June of 1976, called the “data plate,” which lists the VIN number (also called the serial number), along with other facts about the manufacture of the home.
What does a serial number look like on a mobile home? ›The first three digits represent the factory where the home was built. After the three digits, there are two letters that represent the state where the home was built. After the state abbreviation, you have the six digits that represent the manufactured home's serial number.
Where are serial numbers located on a mobile home? ›Your manufactured or mobile home VIN number is typically found: On the data plate inside your home. Marked on your mobile home's steel frame (stamped into the steel cross member where the hitch is attached to for each section of the home)
What is a data plate? ›What is a Data Plate? The Data Plate is a paper label affixed inside the home and is the size of a standard sheet of paper (8 ½” x 11”). The Data Plate can be found in a kitchen cabinet, an electrical panel, or a bedroom closet.
What is the difference between a HUD data plate and HUD certification label? ›That's because nearly all mortgage lenders require the manufactured homes they finance to meet HUD safety standards that were enacted on June 15th, 1976. HUD tags certify that the home meets those standards and data plates (also known as compliance certificates) list out all of the details of the manufactured home.
What does the VIN look like for a mobile home? ›This is a HUD tag (also called a certification label), and it's a two-inch by four-inch metal plate on the back exterior of your mobile home. On it, you'll find a three-letter that identifies the in-plant primary inspection agency that inspected your mobile home.
How do you find a VIN number on a manufactured home? ›The vehicle identification number (VIN) can be found in one of two places on the home: Inside – The VIN can be located on the Data Plate for the home. Exterior – The VIN will be stamped onto the steel frame of each section of the home.
Does a modular home have a HUD tag? ›All Factory Built Homes, both HUD and Modular homes, have a Data Plate permanently attached to them when they are constructed. a. Many times, Data Plates may have been painted over or removed during home renovations after the initial sale of the home.
What is a tag unit on a modular home? ›MODULAR HOME - If the home is a modular built after 1971, it should have a tag called a "Factory Built Unit Certification" attached. This certifies that it has been built to the requirements of the Universal Building Code (UBC), which is the same requirement of stick-built homes.
Where is the HUD label located on a mobile home? ›The HCD insignia(s) or HUD label(s) is required to be located on the rear exterior wall at the lower left corner of the unit or on the exterior wall immediately adjacent to the main door.
What is a decal number on a mobile home? ›
Your decal number. The decal is a small metal plate that is usually attached to the outside of the home. The decal number is listed on the plate and has three letters and four numbers. (You will be asked to include this decal number on all of your Fee and Tax Waiver program application forms.)
What if the HUD data plate is missing? ›What if a Label or Data Plate Is Missing? Unfortunately, HUD does not reissue labels for manufactured houses. However, lenders can obtain verification letters with the same information from HUD's contractor, the Institute for Building Technology and Safety (IBTS).
How do you track the history of a manufactured home? ›Unfortunately, there is no free database that you can access online to get information about your manufactured home. But the data does exist, and it is maintained by the Institute for Business Technology and Safety, a HUD contractor that keeps records back to 1976 of HUD-code manufactured homes.
Is the external data plate required? ›The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires that all aircraft have a data plate, even those that are built by amateurs.
How old is my mobile home? ›The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires that a manufacturer place a large information sticker, called a “data plate,” on the interior of every mobile home manufactured since June 15th, 1976—and that's where you find out.
What does a mobile home HUD plate look like? ›The HUD tag is a 2 inch by 4 inch red metal plate riveted to the exterior wall of each section of mobile home.
What is HUD on mobile home? ›HUD's Manufactured Housing Program is a national program established to protect the health and safety of those that own and occupy manufactured homes through the enforcement of the federal manufactured home construction and safety standards and administration of dispute resolution.
What is an Ibts label? ›IBTS is the single source for manufactured home data used to identify whether a home was built according to the HUD Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards (HUD code) and, if so, how it was designed and constructed.
Is a serial number the same as a VIN? ›A Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) (also known as a serial number) is a 17 character code of letters and numbers that identifies your vehicle. You can find your VIN in several places: On top of the dashboard on the driver's side.
Where is the VIN number on a park model trailer? ›The VIN number or Vehicle Identification Number is typically located on the VIN tag toward the front of the trailer. It could be on the inside, outside or stamped into frame toward tongue.
Where is the VIN number on a trailer? ›
Your VIN tag is located on the driver's side frame rail. It is located to the rear of the landing leg. If your VIN tag is missing, you can locate your four-digit serial number. Your serial number is welded to the front face of the trailer crossmember.
Where are VIN numbers located? ›Inside the Vehicle
In the driver's side door or door jamb – the VIN is usually printed on a sticker in that location.
If the current seller is the legal owner of record, then there is a simple and easy process to obtain a duplicate title. Call your local mobile home titling agency to inquire about specific steps moving forward. Typically the owner of record needs only to provide proof that he or she is the owner and pay a small fee.
How do you get a lost title for a mobile home in Michigan? ›If your mobile home title is lost, you may replace it by processing a duplicate title application at a Secretary of State office. When there is joint ownership on a title, only one of the owners must appear and sign the duplicate title application. An Appointment of Agent form from the co-owner is not required.
How can I tell the difference between a modular home and a manufactured home? ›The primary difference between modular and manufactured homes is that modular homes are held to the same local, state and regional building codes required for on-site homes. Manufactured homes are held to a federal code set by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and have the ability to move.
What is the difference between a HUD home and a modular home? ›The HUD Code, unlike conventional building codes, requires manufactured homes to be constructed on a permanent chassis. Modular homes are constructed to the same state, local or regional building codes as site-built homes.
What is a modular data plate? ›According to federal manufactured home construction rules, any manufactured home should come with a data plate. This is a sheet from the manufacturer that provides standardized information at a glance about the manufactured home, such as when and where it was made and what kinds of equipment it includes.
Whats the difference between a double wide and a modular home? ›Modular Homes
The differences between a modular and double-wide home are therefore seen in the foundation. Unlike the steel frame trailer mostly used for the double-wide, a modular home will always be set onto a foundation. The construction is also done in sections and then moved onto the site of your choice.
You can tell if a home is modular if it was built in separate pieces in a factory and transported to its current location to be assembled. A modular home should also come with a label stating which codes the home was built to instead of a HUD code like a manufactured home.
What is a permanent chassis on a manufactured home? ›Homes built on a permanent chassis are referred to as being “on-frame” and those built on temporary ones are referred to as “off-frame.” Whether a home is built on- or off-frame will affect how the home is assembled at its destination site. Mobile homes are any manufactured home built prior to June 15, 1976.
What is the best foundation for a manufactured home? ›
The pier and beam system is the most popular foundation system for manufactured homes. With the pier and beam foundation system, anchors are driven into the ground to hold your home down and protect it from wind forces. The anchors go into the ground first and then steel straps are attached.
What does HUD stand for? › What is a modular home look like? ›How Modular Homes are Built - Did You Know? - YouTube
What is a decal number? ›Decal means the self-adhesive sticker issued by the Department bearing the registration number assigned to an off-highway vehicle.
Do you pay property tax on mobile homes in Florida? ›Mobile homes with an RP decal must be on the real property assessment roll and taxed annually as real property. The owner of a mobile home who does not own the lot or land on which the mobile home is affixed must pay an annual license tax by purchasing an MH (mobile home) decal.
How much does it cost to register a mobile home in Florida? ›| Length | 1 Year | NEW 2 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Thru 35' | $25.60 | $51.20 |
| 36' - 40' | $30.60 | $61.20 |
| 41' - 45' | $35.60 | $70.20 |
| 46' - 50' | $40.60 | $81.20 |
A Texas Seal is a metal plate with a number that is used to identify a manufactured home that does not have a HUD Label. State law requires that a manufactured home have either a HUD Label or a Texas Seal attached to it BEFORE any sale or exchange (or any negotiations for such) of the home to a consumer.
Does Freddie Mac allow modular homes? ›Mortgages secured by mobile homes are not eligible for sale to Freddie Mac. Modular homes (or other factory-built dwellings) are not built to compliance with the HUD code. They're built to conform to state, local or regional building codes and are usually legally classified as real property.
How do you prove a manufactured home has not been moved? ›Relocated mobile homes are called “second set” in the industry. To verify, go to the Institute for Building Technology and Safety website at ibts.org to find out where the home was originally delivered.
Why was mobile home changed to manufactured home in 1976? ›At that time, mobile homes were perceived as low quality so in 1976, the industry enacted code changes and a name change to alter this perception. When people take offense to the term 'mobile home'(when the structure is actually a manufactured home), it is often because of perception.
What is the oldest mobile home? ›
Conestoga Wagons were the First Mobile Homes in America
Since 1717, they provided humans safety and shelter and helped families carry their goods across the Appalachian and westward. Roads were non-existent and it took days sometimes to travel a mile or two so these wagons were home for months, sometimes longer.
What is a Data Plate? The Data Plate is a paper label affixed inside the home and is the size of a standard sheet of paper (8 ½” x 11”). The Data Plate can be found in a kitchen cabinet, an electrical panel, or a bedroom closet.
Where is the FAA registration number required to be displayed? ›This interim final rule does not change the original acceptable methods of external marking, nor does it specify a particular external surface on which the registration number must be placed. The requirement is that it can be seen upon visual inspection of the aircraft's exterior.
What is the validity period for a certificate of airworthiness? ›5.1 The certificate of airworthiness shall be valid for a period as specified in the certificate which shall not be more than one (1) year.
Is the serial number and VIN number the same on a mobile home? ›1) There is a paper sticker on the interior of all mobile homes manufactured since June of 1976, called the “data plate,” which lists the VIN number (also called the serial number), along with other facts about the manufacture of the home.
How many digits are in a mobile home VIN number? ›Identification number- This set of 6 numbers that represent the home's serial number. Section code- This letter informs you if the mobile home has more than one section. Single-wide houses with just one section do not have a section code.
Does a modular home have a HUD tag? ›All Factory Built Homes, both HUD and Modular homes, have a Data Plate permanently attached to them when they are constructed. a. Many times, Data Plates may have been painted over or removed during home renovations after the initial sale of the home.
Is serial number and VIN number the same? ›A Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) (also known as a serial number) is a 17 character code of letters and numbers that identifies your vehicle. You can find your VIN in several places: On top of the dashboard on the driver's side.
How do you find a VIN number on a manufactured home? ›The vehicle identification number (VIN) can be found in one of two places on the home: Inside – The VIN can be located on the Data Plate for the home. Exterior – The VIN will be stamped onto the steel frame of each section of the home.
Where is the VIN number on a trailer? ›Your VIN tag is located on the driver's side frame rail. It is located to the rear of the landing leg. If your VIN tag is missing, you can locate your four-digit serial number. Your serial number is welded to the front face of the trailer crossmember.
Where is the VIN number on a park model trailer? ›
The VIN number or Vehicle Identification Number is typically located on the VIN tag toward the front of the trailer. It could be on the inside, outside or stamped into frame toward tongue.
What do the first 3 digits of a VIN mean? ›The first three characters uniquely identify the manufacturer of the vehicle using the world manufacturer identifier or WMI code. A manufacturer who builds fewer than 1,000 vehicles per year uses a 9 as the third digit, and the 12th, 13th and 14th position of the VIN for a second part of the identification.
What is the 9th digit of a VIN? ›Number 9 is the check digit, which is used to detect invalid VINs. The number that appears varies and is based on a mathematical formula that the U.S. Department of Transportation developed.
What does the 11th digit in a VIN number mean? ›The attached graphic breaks down the VIN even further. Take a look at the second spot on the VIN. That tells you who the manufacturer is. The 11th spot on the VIN tells you what plant your vehicle is from.
What is a decal number on a mobile home? ›Your decal number. The decal is a small metal plate that is usually attached to the outside of the home. The decal number is listed on the plate and has three letters and four numbers. (You will be asked to include this decal number on all of your Fee and Tax Waiver program application forms.)
How do you tell what year a mobile home is? ›The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires that a manufacturer place a large information sticker, called a “data plate,” on the interior of every mobile home manufactured since June 15th, 1976—and that's where you find out.
Where are VIN numbers located? ›Inside the Vehicle
In the driver's side door or door jamb – the VIN is usually printed on a sticker in that location.
Every light tactical trailer LTT should have two metal plates affixed to the unit, a shipping data plate and identifications sticker, that gives you critical details about your trailer. Both are located on the front of the trailers, attached by rivets.
Do trailers have VIN numbers or serial numbers? ›Just like a vehicle VIN number, a trailer VIN is a unique identifier of the trailer. The NHTSA requires all trailers destined for traveling on the road to be assigned a 17-digit VIN.
How many VIN numbers do trailers have? ›Have you looked at a VIN sticker or Certificate of Origin and been confused as to why there are so many numbers necessary to identify your trailer? The 17 digit VIN number associated with all motor vehicles (and trailers) is designed and mandated by the government to promote industry uniformity.
How do I check a VIN number on a trailer for free? ›
Here's Where To Get a Completely Free VIN Check!
You can get a free VIN check at the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), VehicleHistory.com or iSeeCars.com/VIN. Just pop in your car's digits and these sites will do the VIN lookup and give you information on the vehicle.
The 10th character in the 17-character VIN represents the vehicle model-year. This standard applies to vehicles built in or after 1981.
Can you look up GVWR by VIN? ›In order to identify GVWR by VIN number, the VIN decoding tool must also be able to identify trim by VIN. In some cases, trim will be encoded in the VIN pattern, in which case GVWR can easily be identified. However, for most cases, the full 17 digits need to be decoded which requires build data from the manufacturer.