How much does it cost to move a mobile home in McAllen?
Movers in the Rio Grande Valley rarely publish prices, so the ranges below come from Texas-wide cost data, one Texas mover's published rate sheet, and the state agencies that set permit and filing fees. Use them to sanity-check a quote. Only a licensed mover who has seen both sites can give you a real price.
Single-wide vs double-wide
| Move | Typical cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Single-wide, local move (under 50 miles), transport | $2,500 to $7,000 | [1] |
| Single-wide, local move, average fixed fee in Texas | About $2,360 (range about $2,110 to $2,620) | [2] |
| Double-wide, local move (under 50 miles), transport | $6,000 to $12,000 | [1] |
| One published Texas rate sheet (Conroe/Houston, under 50 miles, includes delivery, re-block, level and tie-down) | Single-wide $2,500; double-wide $5,000 | [3] |
| Long distance (over 200 miles) | Up to about $10,000 single-wide; $18,000+ double-wide | [1] |
| Full-service add-ons (disconnect, site prep, installation) | Can add $3,000 to $10,000 | [1] |
A double-wide costs roughly twice as much because each half moves separately: two trucks or two trips, two permits, often escorts, and the halves must be re-joined and sealed at the new site [1] [5].
Permits, escorts and state fees
| Item | What the rules or sources say | Source |
|---|---|---|
| TxDMV manufactured housing single-trip permit | $40 per section (a double-wide on its own axles needs one permit per half). Valid for one trip, up to 5 days, specific route. | [5] |
| Escort (pilot) cars | Required when a section is over 16 ft wide: over 16 to 18 ft, 1 escort (front on non-divided roads, rear on divided); over 18 ft, 1 front and 1 rear. Typical cost $100 to $500 per escort vehicle. | [5] [4] |
| Extra mileage on one published rate sheet | $6 per mile single-wide, $12 per mile double-wide beyond 35 miles | [3] |
| TDHCA Notice of Installation (Form T) reporting fee | $75 for a single section, plus $25 for each additional section. The licensed installer files it within 7 days. | [9] [10] |
| Local building/placement permit at the new site | Often $500 to $2,000, depending on the city or county | [4] |
| Double-wide "trim out" (re-joining siding and interior seams), one rate sheet | About $2,000 | [3] |
Manufactured housing may not be moved on any national holiday, and homes over 12 feet wide need amber warning beacons [5].
Example: what the numbers add up to
Single-wide, 60 miles, using the published rate sheet: $2,500 base for the first 35 miles plus 25 extra miles × $6 = $150, so about $2,650, plus the $40 TxDMV permit and the $75 TDHCA installation reporting fee if they're passed through: about $2,765 [3] [5] [9].
Double-wide, 60 miles: $5,000 base plus 25 × $12 = $300, plus two $40 permits and a $100 Form T fee (for 2 sections), about $5,480, and about $2,000 more if you want the trim-out done [3] [5] [9]. Escort cars add $100 to $500 each if a section is over 16 feet wide [5] [4].
This is arithmetic on published figures, not a quote. McAllen-area prices may be higher or lower.
What drives the price
- Size: single vs double vs triple, and width (over 16 ft needs escorts)
- Distance and route (TxDMV routes oversize loads)
- Setup scope: blocks, piers, anchors, re-leveling, re-joining halves, skirting
- Condition: axles, tires and hitch may need repair before the home can roll
- Site access: gates, trees, soft ground, tight park entrances
- Utilities: disconnect and reconnect of power, water, septic or sewer, and gas
- Local permits at the new site
Licensing: who is allowed to set up the home
In Texas, anyone who installs or re-levels a manufactured home must be licensed and bonded by TDHCA's Manufactured Housing Division [7], and only a licensed installer may install, re-level or change the foundation [8]. A quote from an unlicensed crew may look cheaper, but the setup won't be reported to TDHCA on Form T, can't be inspected, and doesn't come with the installer's written warranty [9] [8]. How to check a license.
Moving into Cameron or Willacy County (Brownsville, Harlingen, San Benito, Raymondville, South Padre)? Those are Wind Zone II counties under Texas law. A home built on or after September 1, 1997 can only be installed there if it was built to HUD Wind Zone II standards; homes built before that date have no restriction. Hidalgo County itself is Wind Zone I. Check the data plate inside your home before you plan the move. [11] [8]
Check the mover's TDHCA license · Get a quote
Sources
- LocalMovers.com, "Mobile Home Movers in Texas" (2026 cost section). Checked October 22, 2026.
- ProMatcher, Texas Mobile Home Moving Costs report. Checked October 22, 2026.
- SouthernMH Mobile Homes of Conroe, published mobile home moving rates. Checked October 22, 2026.
- Braustin Homes, "How Manufactured Home Delivery Works in Texas". Checked October 22, 2026.
- Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, Motor Carrier Handbook (May 2025), Manufactured Housing Single-Trip Permit. Checked October 22, 2026.
- TxDMV, Manufactured Housing Single-Trip Permits. Checked October 22, 2026.
- TDHCA Manufactured Housing Division, "Licenses are Required to Sell and Install Manufactured Homes". Checked October 22, 2026.
- TDHCA, Frequently Asked Questions: Statement of Ownership. Checked October 22, 2026.
- TDHCA, Notice of Installation (Form T). Checked October 22, 2026.
- TDHCA, Online Submissions for Home Installations. Checked October 22, 2026.
- Texas Occupations Code §1201.256, Wind Zone Regulations. Checked October 22, 2026.
- TDHCA Manufactured Housing, View License Records. Checked October 22, 2026.
McAllen Mobile Home Movers doesn't set prices and isn't affiliated with any company whose published figures are cited above.