Home » Motorcycle Safety Topics » Motorcycle Helmet Laws by State

Motorcycle Helmet Laws by State

ATTENTION: Learning to ride a motorcycle? Make sure you satisfy your state's insurance requirements. Click below for a free quote.

Please enter your zip to get started:

Check out the motorcycle helmet laws across the United States.

Motorcycle Helmet Laws

Are motorcycle helmets required in all 50 states?

While many states require motorcyclists to wear helmets when riding on public roads, they are not required for all riders in every state.

18 U.S. state have motorcycle helmet requirements for all riders and passengers.

29 states have helmet requirements for riders under a certain age (typically 21, 19, or 18 years old).

3 states do not have any helmet laws.

Motorcycle Helmet Laws

Find your state in the chart below to learn about the motorcycle helmet law requirements.

StateMotorcycle Helmet LawExemptions/Notes
AlabamaAll riders
AlaskaRiders under 18 years old
ArizonaRiders under 18 years oldMopeds exempt
ArkansasRiders under 21 years old
CaliforniaAll riders
ColoradoRiders and passengers under 18 years old
ConnecticutRiders under 18 years old
DelawareRiders 18 years old and underMopeds exempt for riders at least 17 years old
FloridaRiders 20 years old and underMopeds exempt if the riders is at least 16 years old. Riders 21+ exempt with proper health insurance plan.
GeorgiaAll ridersMopeds exempt
HawaiiRiders under 18 years old
IdahoRiders under 18 years oldMopeds exempt
IllinoisNo helmet law
IndianaRiders under 18 years old
IowaNo helmet law
KansasRiders under 18 years old
KentuckyRiders under 21 years oldMopeds exempt
LouisianaAll riders
MaineRiders under 18 years oldMotorized bicycles exempt
MarylandAll riders
MassachusettsAll riders
MichiganRiders under 21 years oldMopeds exempt if the riders is at least 19 years old
MinnesotaRiders under 18 years old
MississippiAll riders
MissouriAll ridersMotorized bicycles exempt
MontanaRiders under 18 years oldMopeds exempt
NebraskaAll riders
NevadaAll riders
New HampshireNo helmet law
New JerseyAll riders
New MexicoRiders under 18 years oldMopeds exempt
New YorkAll ridersClass C limited use motorcycles with speeds of no more than 20 MPH exempt
North CarolinaAll riders
North DakotaRiders under 18 years old
OhioRiders under 18 years old
OklahomaRiders under 18 years oldMotor-driven cycles exempt
OregonAll riders
PennsylvaniaRiders under 21 years old
Rhode IslandRiders under 21 years old
South CarolinaRiders under 21 years old3-wheel motorcycles exempt
South DakotaRiders under 18 years old
TennesseeAll riders
TexasRiders under 21 years old
UtahRiders under 21 years old
VermontAll ridersMotor-driven cycles exempt
VirginiaAll riders
WashingtonAll riders
West VirginiaAll riders
WisconsinRiders under 18 years oldMopeds exempt
WyomingRiders under 18 years oldMopeds exempt
Washington DCAll riders

If you’re taking a motorcycle safety course to get your motorcycle learner’s permit, you will be required to wear a an approved helmet along with all the other necessary riding gear.

Motorcycle Helmet Laws for All Riders (18 States & DC)

Full helmet laws, or universal motorcycle helmet laws, apply to all riders and passengers.

18 states and Washington DC require all riders to wear a helmet.

The following states require ALL motorcycle riders to wear a DOT-approved helmet:

  • Alabama
  • California
  • Georgia
  • Louisiana
  • Maryland
  • Massachusetts
  • Mississippi
  • Nebraska
  • Nevada
  • New Jersey
  • New York
  • North Carolina
  • Oregon
  • Tennessee
  • Vermont
  • Virginia
  • Washington
  • Washington DC
  • West Virginia

No Motorcycle Helmet Law (3 States)

The following 3 states do not have a motorcycle helmet law:

  • Illinois
  • Iowa
  • New Hampshire

Age Restricted Motorcycle Helmet Laws (29 States)

The following states only require helmets for riders under 18 years old:

  • Alaska
  • Arizona
  • Colorado
  • Connecticut
  • Hawaii
  • Idaho
  • Indiana
  • Kansas
  • Maine
  • Minnesota
  • Montana
  • New Hampshire
  • New Mexico
  • North Dakota
  • Ohio
  • Oklahoma
  • South Dakota
  • Utah
  • Wisconsin
  • Wyoming

The following states require helmets for riders under 19 years old:

  • Delaware

The following states require helmets for riders under 21 years old:

  • Arkansas
  • Florida
  • Kentucky
  • Michigan
  • Pennsylvania
  • Rhode Island
  • South Carolina
  • Texas
  • Pennsylvania

These types of age-based helmet laws are much more difficult to enforce.

Why don’t some states have motorcycle helmet laws?

Even though motorcycle helmets have been proven to reduce deaths, injuries, and medical costs, not every state has mandatory helmet laws for every rider.

In the 70s, the federal government required states to pass mandatory motorcycle helmet laws in order to receive federal funds for safety initiatives and highway construction.

Since then, helmet law incentives were relaxed, and many states weakened or removed their laws altogether.

Lawmakers in states without mandatory helmets laws typically cite personal freedom and responsibility as the reasons for not requiring motorcycle helmets. Others cite the difficulty of enforcement as another reason to remove the law.

Penalties for Riding Without a Motorcycle Helmet

If you are stopped for riding without a motorcycle helmet in a state that requires one, you may face:

  • Fines ranging from $10 to $200+.
  • Driving record points.
  • Motorcycle license suspensions.

Exact fines and penalties vary by state and whether or not you were pulled over for any other reasons while also riding without a helmet.

Motorcycle Helmet Ratings

When you’re shopping for a motorcycle helmet, you should make sure to purchase one that has been rated by a recognized safety organization.

Motorcycle helmet safety ratings include:

  • DOT (US Department of Transportation).
  • ECE (Economic Commission for Europe).
  • SNELL

DOT Helmet Sticker

In the United States, all legally accepted motorcycle helmets will include a DOT sticker or logo near the back of it.

The official DOT sticker ensures that the helmet meets a minimum safety standard and federal regulations based on a number of tests and criteria.

DOT approved helmets feature:

  • Inner liners that are at least 1″ thick.
  • Overall weight of about 3 pounds.
  • Sturdy D-rings and helmet straps to keep the helmet on securely.

Why Wear a Motorcycle Helmet?

Whether your state has a mandatory helmet law or not, it’s a smart idea to wear one every time you get on your bike.

It’s been proven that helmets save lives and prevent traumatic brain injury in the event of a motorcycle collision.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motorcycle helmets reduce the risk of death by 37 to 42%, and riders without a helmet are 3 times more likely to suffer a traumatic brain injury in a collision.

Head injuries are the most common cause of motorcycle fatalities. If you ride without a helmet and are involved in a crash, your risk of death is much greater.

Motorcycle helmets are designed to reduce injury in the event of an impact. Through a combination of an outer shell, foam liner, padding system, and retention system a helmet works to absorb impacts so that your skull and brain do not.

While your helmet is designed to protect your head during a crash, it’s best if it never has to do so. Motorcycle helmets have other benefits as well, including:

  • Built in eye protection and face shields on certain types of helmets. (otherwise, goggles can be worn.)
  • Protection from bugs, rocks, and road debris.
  • Reducing the harmful and exhausting effects of wind and road noise.
  • Helping make the rider more visible to other road users, depending on the color, reflectivity, and type.

Contrary to many myths and old-school rider opinions, modern motorcycle helmets do not negatively impact your ability to see or hear while riding.

Learn more about recommended motorcycle safety gear.

Check out some of the best motorcycle helmets.

How Does a Motorcycle Helmet Work?

Motorcycle helmets consist of 4 main components:

  • Hard outer shell: designed to compress and disperse energy during an impact.
  • Impact-absorbing liner: designed to further absorb shock and protect your head as it continues to move during an impact.
  • Inner padding: designed to keep the helmet comfortable, snug, and fitting effectively.
  • Retention strap: consisting of a chin strap that is designed to keep the helmet in place during a crash.

Helmets are designed to withstand a single impact.

When to Get a New Motorcycle Helmet

Motorcycle helmets are single-use, meaning they are designed to absorb a single impact.

If your helmet has been in a crash, if something hit it, or if it has been dropped, it’s time to replace it.

The materials that make up the impact-absorbing, retention straps, and padding can tend to wear and degrade over time. If your helmet is old or your notice signs of wear, you should also replace it.

In most cases, you should be replacing your helmet every 5 years. And, you should never buy a used helmet.

Helmet technology only continue to improve, and motorcycle helmets are much lighter and more protective now than they were in the past.

If you’re unsure about your current helmet or find it uncomfortable, it’s probably time for a new one.

Learn more about getting the right fit and caring for your motorcycle helmet.

Need cheaper insurance? ➜