Throttle Buff is reader-supported: we may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page. Learn more.
17 states and Washington, D.C. require every motorcycle rider to wear a helmet. 30 states only require helmets for younger riders, usually those under 18 or 21, and Illinois, Iowa and New Hampshire have no helmet law at all. Pick your state below to see its helmet rule, plus how many riders died there in 2024 and how many weren’t wearing a helmet.
Choose your state
Motorcycle helmet laws by state (full table)
Helmet-law categories and age rules from the IIHS helmet-law table (November 2026). Some partial-law states add extra conditions, such as insurance or training, for adult riders who go without a helmet.
| State | Law | Who must wear a helmet |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Universal | All riders |
| Alaska | Partial | 17 and younger; all passengers; operators under 18 and permit holders |
| Arizona | Partial | 17 and younger |
| Arkansas | Partial | 20 and younger |
| California | Universal | All riders |
| Colorado | Partial | 17 and younger, plus passengers 17 and younger |
| Connecticut | Partial | 20 and younger |
| Delaware | Partial | 18 and younger, plus novice riders and passengers for two years after endorsement |
| District of Columbia | Universal | All riders |
| Florida | Partial | under 21; riders 21+ may ride without a helmet with proof of medical insurance |
| Georgia | Universal | All riders |
| Hawaii | Partial | 17 and younger |
| Idaho | Partial | 17 and younger |
| Illinois | None | No helmet law |
| Indiana | Partial | 17 and younger |
| Iowa | None | No helmet law |
| Kansas | Partial | 17 and younger |
| Kentucky | Partial | 20 and younger, plus permit holders and riders licensed under one year |
| Louisiana | Universal | All riders |
| Maine | Partial | 17 and younger, plus learner’s permit holders, first-year operators and passengers 17 and younger |
| Maryland | Universal | All riders |
| Massachusetts | Universal | All riders |
| Michigan | Partial | under 21; riders 21+ may ride without a helmet with added insurance plus a course or two years’ endorsement |
| Minnesota | Partial | 17 and younger, plus learner’s permit holders |
| Mississippi | Universal | All riders |
| Missouri | Partial | 25 and younger; riders 26+ may ride without a helmet with proof of financial responsibility |
| Montana | Partial | 17 and younger |
| Nebraska | Partial | under 21; riders 21+ may ride without a helmet with a Class M license and Basic eCourse |
| Nevada | Universal | All riders |
| New Hampshire | None | No helmet law |
| New Jersey | Universal | All riders |
| New Mexico | Partial | 17 and younger |
| New York | Universal | All riders |
| North Carolina | Universal | All riders |
| North Dakota | Partial | 17 and younger, plus passengers |
| Ohio | Partial | 17 and younger, plus first-year operators and their passengers |
| Oklahoma | Partial | 17 and younger |
| Oregon | Universal | All riders |
| Pennsylvania | Partial | 20 and younger, plus operators in their first two years unless they completed a safety course |
| Rhode Island | Partial | 20 and younger, plus all passengers and first-year operators |
| South Carolina | Partial | 20 and younger |
| South Dakota | Partial | 17 and younger |
| Tennessee | Universal | All riders |
| Texas | Partial | 20 and younger; riders 21+ exempt with a training course or medical insurance |
| Utah | Partial | 20 and younger |
| Vermont | Universal | All riders |
| Virginia | Universal | All riders |
| Washington | Universal | All riders |
| West Virginia | Universal | All riders |
| Wisconsin | Partial | 17 and younger, plus learner’s permit holders |
| Wyoming | Partial | 17 and younger |
Do helmet laws make a difference?
In NHTSA’s 2024 data, 11% of motorcyclists killed in universal-law states weren’t wearing a helmet, compared with 47% in partial-law states and 59% in the three states with no law. See the full ranking in our motorcycle deaths and helmet laws by state study, and the national picture in our motorcycle accident statistics.
What the law means for your helmet
- Where helmets are required, they generally must meet the federal DOT standard (FMVSS 218). Look for the DOT label on the back of the shell.
- Even where they’re optional, a certified helmet is the single most effective piece of gear. Start with our best motorcycle helmets or helmets under $200.
- Get the size right with our helmet size calculator, and check helmet types to choose full-face, modular or open-face.
- Riding with a passenger or a child? Many partial laws cover passengers too. See passenger helmets and kids’ helmets.
Sources
Helmet laws: IIHS motorcycle helmet laws table, as of November 2026. Deaths, helmet use and alcohol figures: NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts: Motorcycles, 2024 Data (Tables 7 and 8). This page is general information, not legal advice. Laws change, so confirm the current rules with your state’s DMV.
Free to link or embed: https://throttlebuff.com/motorcycle-helmet-laws-by-state/
FAQ
How many states require motorcycle helmets?
17 states and Washington, D.C. require all riders to wear a helmet. 30 more require helmets only for some riders, usually those under 18 or 21.
Which states have no motorcycle helmet law?
Illinois, Iowa and New Hampshire have no motorcycle helmet law for any age.
Do passengers have to wear a helmet?
In universal-law states, yes. In partial-law states it varies: Alaska and Rhode Island, for example, require helmets for all passengers.
Is Florida a helmet law state?
Partly. Riders under 21 must wear a helmet; riders 21 and over may ride without one if they carry proof of medical insurance.
