Guide · 3 min read · Updated October 10, 2026
Mobile Home HUD Label and Data Plate: How to Find, Read, and Replace Them
Where the HUD label and data plate are on a mobile home, what they tell you, why lenders and insurers ask for them, and what to do if one is missing.
The short answer
The HUD label (or HUD tag) is a small metal plate on the outside of each section of a manufactured home, and the data plate is a paper sheet inside, usually near the electrical panel, in a kitchen cabinet, or in a bedroom closet. Together they show the home was built to the federal HUD code, which started June 15, 1976. If either is missing, HUD does not reissue them, but IBTS can provide a label verification letter or a copy of the data plate.
Two small labels can decide whether you can finance, insure, or resell a used mobile home. Find them first.
What is a HUD label on a mobile home?
A HUD label, often called a HUD tag, is a metal plate that shows a manufactured home section was built to the federal HUD code. Every home built on or after June 15, 1976 should have one on each section.
Per 24 CFR 3280.11, the label is about 2 by 4 inches, etched aluminum, riveted or screwed on so it's hard to remove. HUD says the number starts with three letters and six digits, like RAD 000001. The letters identify the inspection agency.
Where is the HUD tag on a mobile home?
The HUD tag sits on the outside of each section, at the taillight end (opposite the hitch), about 1 foot up from the floor and 1 foot in from the road side.
If skirting or a porch would hide that spot, the approved design can place it somewhere else that stays visible (24 CFR 3280.11). A double-wide should have two tags.
What is a mobile home data plate?
The data plate is a paper sheet, about 8.5 by 11 inches, inside the home that records how and where it was built. HUD says to check a kitchen cabinet, near the main electrical panel, or a bedroom closet.
Under 24 CFR 3280.5, it must list:
| What's on it | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Plant name and address | Who built it |
| Serial number, model, manufacture date | Should match the title |
| HUD label numbers for each section | Ties the inside paper to the outside tags |
| Wind zone and roof load zone maps | What weather the home was built for |
| Major factory-installed equipment | Original appliances and models |
The serial number is also stamped into the foremost cross member of the frame, with A/B added for each section of a multi-section home (HUD).
Why do lenders and insurers need the HUD tag?
Lenders need proof the home meets the HUD code, and the HUD label or data plate is that proof.
Fannie Mae's Selling Guide (B2-3-02) requires a manufactured home built to the federal standards established June 15, 1976. The appraisal report must include photos of the data plate or the HUD label(s). For an existing home, a label verification letter or a duplicate data plate from IBTS is accepted instead. Without one of these, Fannie Mae won't buy the loan.
Insurers use the serial number and build date too. Kin Insurance notes insurers use it to verify a home's age and construction standards, and generally view homes built after June 15, 1976 more favorably.
How do you replace a missing HUD tag or data plate?
HUD does not reissue labels. Instead, request a Letter of Label Verification from IBTS, HUD's contractor, at lvr2.ibts.org or by mail (HUD).
Missing HUD tag: Order a Label Verification Letter from IBTS. It stands in for the metal tags.
Missing data plate: IBTS can supply a copy of the original, or a Performance Verification Certificate if the original isn't on file (IBTS). The manufacturer is another option.
The IBTS order form asks for the home's city and state, manufacturer, manufacture date, and the serial number or HUD label number. IBTS charges a fee, so check its current prices before ordering. It does not verify modular homes, park models, RVs, or homes built before June 15, 1976.
The LAND + HOME paperwork check
The LAND + HOME paperwork check is five things to confirm before you make an offer on a used mobile home. Take photos of each one.
- 1. HUD tag on every section, readable, with the number written down.
- 2. Data plate inside, with label numbers that match the outside tags.
- 3. Serial number that matches the data plate, the frame, and the title.
- 4. Manufacture date on or after June 15, 1976.
- 5. Wind and roof load zones that fit where the home sits, or where you plan to move it.
Anything missing? Ask the seller to order the IBTS paperwork before closing, and tell your lender early. Then walk the rest of the home with the mobile home inspection checklist, and compare financing in manufactured home loans.
The bottom line
The HUD tag and data plate are a used mobile home's birth certificate. Check both before you make an offer, match the serial numbers to the title, and order IBTS paperwork early if something is missing. Lender and insurer rules vary, so do your research and know your numbers.
Common questions
Where is the HUD tag on a mobile home?
On the outside of each section, at the taillight end (the end opposite the hitch), about 1 foot up from the floor and 1 foot in from the road side. A double-wide has two tags, one per section.
Where is the data plate on a mobile home?
Inside the home, usually near the main electrical panel, inside a kitchen cabinet, or in a bedroom closet. It is a paper sheet about 8.5 by 11 inches.
How do I get a replacement HUD tag?
HUD does not reissue HUD labels. Instead, you can request a Letter of Label Verification from IBTS, HUD's contractor, through its online portal at lvr2.ibts.org or by mail.
Can I get a copy of my mobile home data plate?
Often, yes. IBTS can supply a copy of the original data plate, or a substitute Performance Verification Certificate if the original isn't on file. You can also try the manufacturer or the in-plant inspection agency.
Does a mobile home built before 1976 have a HUD tag?
No. HUD labels started with the HUD code on June 15, 1976, and IBTS does not verify homes built before that date. Most conventional lenders, including Fannie Mae, require a home built to the HUD code.
When you're ready for the next step
Keep reading
Mobile Home Inspection Checklist: What to Check Before You BuyWhat a mobile home inspection covers, a zone-by-zone checklist to bring to every showing, and what an inspection costs.
Manufactured Home Loans: FHA, VA, USDA, Conventional + ChattelThe main ways to finance a manufactured home, what each one requires, and how land and titling decide which ones you can use.