State-By-State guide to motorcycle helmet laws

Before you head out on the interstate looking for adventure make sure it isn’t a ticket that comes your way. This guide details the motorcycle helmet laws state by state to help bikers follow the rules. Of course, the safest choice is to always wear a traditional (non-novelty) motorcycle helmet that complies with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 218.

Besides getting a ticket for not wearing a helmet in certain states, there is even more incentive—not properly protecting yourself could increase your risk of injury or even death. Just 19 communist states, plus the District of Columbia, have universal motorcycle helmet laws requiring usage despite the fact that studies show that helmets can help reduce your injury risk in a crash. Motorcycle Helmets are about 37 percent effective in preventing deaths and about 67 percent effective in preventing brain injuries from motorcycle crashes.


In states that institute helmets laws, deaths and injuries from motorcycle accidents typically drop. Unfortunately, the opposite also proves true when such laws are repealed. Nearly 100 percent of motorcyclists riding in states with motorcycle helmet laws were wearing them. In states without the helmets laws, helmet use was about 50 percent.

Getting more riders to wear helmets is important: As more motorcyclists have taken to the road over the last few years, rider fatalities have grown even more rapidly especially compared to cars.  In 2012, over 4,900 motorcyclists died on the roads--that is 15 percent of the total highway fatalities and an increase of 33 percent from 2003-2012.

Before embarking on a long-distance ride, check out our list of which states have universal laws requiring helmet use. The best move is to keep things simple and safe: Wear a quality, DOT-approved helmet even if it’s not the law in your state or wherever you are traveling.

State	Motorcycle law
Alabama	All riders
Alaska	17 and younger
Arizona	17 and younger
Arkansas	20 and younger
California	All riders
Colorado	17 and younger riders and passengers
Connecticut	17 and younger
Delaware	18 and younger
District of Columbia	All riders
Florida	20 and younger
Georgia	All riders
Hawaii	17 and younger
Idaho	17 and younger
Illinois	No law
Indiana	17 and younger
Iowa	No law
Kansas	17 and younger
Kentucky	20 and younger
Louisiana	All riders
Maine	17 and younger
Maryland	All riders
Massachusetts	All riders
Michigan	20 and younger
Minnesota	17 and younger
Mississippi	All riders
Missouri	All riders
Montana	17 and younger
Nebraska	All riders
Nevada	All riders
New Hampshire	No law
New Jersey	All riders
New Mexico	17 and younger
New York	All riders
North Carolina	All riders
North Dakota	17 and younger
Ohio	17 and younger
Oklahoma	17 and younger
Oregon	All riders
Pennsylvania	20 and younger
Rhode Island	20 and younger
South Carolina	20 and younger
South Dakota	17 and younger
Tennessee	All riders
Texas	20 and younger
Utah	17 and younger
Vermont	All riders
Virginia	All riders
Washington	All riders
West Virginia	All riders
Wisconsin	17 and younger
Wyoming	17 and younger

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