Motorcycle helmet use laws

Motorcycle helmet laws that apply to all riders have been shown to reduce deaths and injuries. Read more on our main motorcycle page.

This material has been prepared for general information purposes only. It is not guaranteed to be current and should be independently verified. Do not rely on it when considering how a law may apply to your circumstances.

March 2024

State Required to wear helmet Motorcycle-type vehicles not covered
Alabama all riders all are covered
Alaska 17 and youngerFootnote 1 all are covered
Arizona 17 and younger moped, defined by the state as having an engine displacement of 50 cc or less, brake horsepower of 1.5 or less, and a maximum speed of 25 mph
Arkansas 20 and younger all are covered
California all riders all are covered
Colorado 17 and younger and passengers 17 and younger all are covered
Connecticut 17 and younger all are covered
Delaware 18 and younger and passengers 18 and younger; novice riders and their passengers for the first two years after endorsementFootnote 2 moped, defined by the state as a pedal or non-pedal bicycle having two tandem wheels and an engine displacement of less than 55 cc or an electric motor rated between 751 and 2000 watts, if the operator is 17 or older
District of Columbia all riders all are covered
Florida 20 and youngerFootnote 3 moped, defined by the state as having an engine displacement of 50 cc or less, brake horsepower of 2 or less, and maximum speed of 30 mph, if the operator is 16 or older
Georgia all riders moped, defined by the state as having an engine displacement of 50 cc or less, brake horsepower of 2 or less and maximum speed on 30 mph
Hawaii 17 and younger all are covered
Idaho 17 and younger moped, defined by the state as having an engine displacement of 50 cc or less, brake horsepower of less than 2, and maximum speed of 30 mph
Illinois no law no law
Indiana 17 and younger all are covered
Iowa no law no law
Kansas 17 and younger all are covered
Kentucky 20 and youngerFootnote 4 moped, defined by the state as having an engine displacement of 50 cc or less, brake horsepower of 2 or less, and maximum speed of 30 mph
Louisiana all riders all are covered
Maine 17 and youngerFootnote 5 motorized bicycle, defined by the state as having brake horsepower of 1.5 or less and maximum unassisted speed of 25 mph; may have pedals
Maryland all riders all are covered
Massachusetts all riders all are covered
Michigan 20 and youngerFootnote 6 moped, defined by the state as having an engine displacement of 50 cc or less and maximum speed of 30 mph, if the operator is 19 or older
Minnesota 17 and youngerFootnote 7 all are covered
Mississippi all riders all are covered
Missouri 25 and youngerFootnote 8 motorized bicycles, defined by the state as having an engine displacement of 50 cc or less, brake horsepower less than 3, and maximum speed of 30 mph
Montana 17 and younger moped, defined by the state as having brake horsepower of 2 or less and maximum unassisted speed of 30 mph
Nebraska 20 and youngerFootnote 9 all are covered
Nevada all riders all are covered
New Hampshire no law no law
New Jersey all riders all are covered
New Mexico 17 and younger moped, defined by the state as having an engine displacement less than 50 cc and maximum speeds of 30 mph
New York all riders class C limited use motorcycle, defined by the state as having maximum speeds of 20 mph
North Carolina all riders all are covered
North Dakota 17 and youngerFootnote 10 all are covered
Ohio 17 and youngerFootnote 11 all are covered
Oklahoma 17 and younger motor-driven cycle, defined by the state as having an engine displacement greater than 35 cc but less than 150 cc or electric motor that produces more than 1000 watts moped, defined by the state as having an engine displacement of 50 cc or less, brake horsepower of 2 or less and maximum speed of 30 mph
Oregon all riders all are covered
Pennsylvania 20 and youngerFootnote 12 all are covered
Rhode Island 20 and youngerFootnote 13 all are covered
South Carolina 20 and younger motorcycle three-wheel vehicle, defined by the state as having detachable side cars, saddle-type seat, and handlebars or motorcycle-type steering
South Dakota 17 and younger all are covered
Tennessee all riders all are covered
Texas 20 and youngerFootnote 14 all are covered
Utah 20 and younger all are covered
Vermont all riders motor-driven cycle, defined by the state as having an engine displacement of 50 cc or less, brake horsepower of 2 or less, and maximum speed of 30 mph
Virginia all riders all are covered
Washington all riders all are covered
West Virginia all riders all are covered
Wisconsin 17 and youngerFootnote 15 moped, defined by the state as having an engine displacement of 130 cc or less, maximum speed of 30 mph, and fully operative pedals
Wyoming 17 and younger moped, defined by the state as having an engine displacement of 50 cc or less, brake horsepower of 2 or less, and maximum speeds of 30 mph