Helmet Laws

¹Alaska's motorcycle helmet use law covers passengers of all ages, operators younger than 18, and operators with instructional permits.

²In Florida, the law requires that all riders younger than 21 years wear helmets, without exception. Those 21 years and older may ride without helmets only if they can show proof that they are covered by a medical insurance policy.

³In Kentucky, the law requires that all riders younger than 21 years wear helmets, without exception. Those 21 years and older may ride without helmets only if they can show proof that they are covered by a medical insurance policy. Motorcycle helmet laws in Kentucky also cover operators with instructional/learner's permits.

⁴Motorcycle helmet laws in Maine cover operators with instructional/learner's permits. Maine's motorcycle helmet use law also covers passengers 17 years and younger and passengers if their operators are required to wear a helmet.

⁵Motorcycle helmet laws in Minnesota cover operators with instructional/learner's permits.

⁶North Dakota's motorcycle helmet use law covers all passengers traveling with operators who are covered by the law.

⁷Ohio's motorcycle helmet use law covers all operators during the first year of licensure and all passengers of operators who are covered by the law.

⁸Pennsylvania's motorcycle helmet use law covers all operators during the first two years of licensure unless the operator has completed the safety course approved by PennDOT or the Motorcycle Safety Foundation.

⁹Rhode Island's motorcycle helmet use law covers all passengers (regardless of age) and all operators during the first year of licensure (regardless of age).

¹⁰Texas exempts riders 21 years or older if they can either show proof of successfully completing a motorcycle operator training and safety course or can show proof of having a medical insurance policy. A peace officer may not stop or detain a person who is the operator of or a passenger on a motorcycle for the sole purpose of determining whether the person has successfully completed the motorcycle operator training and safety course or is covered by a health insurance plan.

¹¹Motorcycle helmet laws in Wisconsin cover operators with instructional/learner's permits.

Motorcycle helmets
State	Universal law (covers all riders)	Partial law (covers young riders or some adult riders)
Alabama	yes	no
Alaska	no	17 and younger¹
Arizona	no	17 and younger
Arkansas	no	20 and younger
California	yes	no
Colorado	no	17 and younger and their passengers 17 and younger
Connecticut	no	17 and younger
Delaware	no	18 and younger
District of Columbia	yes	no
Florida	no	20 and younger²
Georgia	yes	no
Hawaii	no	17 and younger
Idaho	no	17 and younger
Illinois	no law	no law
Indiana	no	17 and younger
Iowa	no law	no law
Kansas	no	17 and younger
Kentucky	no	20 and younger³
Louisiana	yes	no
Maine	no	17 and younger⁴
Maryland	yes	no
Massachusetts	yes	no
Michigan	yes	no
Minnesota	no	17 and younger⁵
Mississippi	yes	no
Missouri	yes	no
Montana	no	17 and younger
Nebraska	yes	no
Nevada	yes	no
New Hampshire	no law	no law
New Jersey	yes	no
New Mexico	no	17 and younger
New York	yes	no
North Carolina	yes	no
North Dakota	no	17 and younger⁶
Ohio	no	17 and younger⁷
Oklahoma	no	17 and younger
Oregon	yes	no
Pennsylvania	no	20 and younger⁸
Rhode Island	no	20 and younger⁹
South Carolina	no	20 and younger
South Dakota	no	17 and younger
Tennessee	yes	no
Texas	no	20 and younger¹⁰
Utah	no	17 and younger
Vermont	yes	no
Virginia	yes	no
Washington	yes	no
West Virginia	yes	no
Wisconsin	no	17 and younger¹¹
Wyoming	no	17 and younger

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