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I live in the Midwest, in central Ohio. As such, we have a lot of flat, long highways. I-70 cuts from east to west, and I-71 draws a diagonal line from Cleveland through Columbus and down to Cincinnati. State Route 23 travels north/south nearly vertically. Since we have such easy riding topography, in the warm weather months, you’ll see motorcycles all over. As much as we know about the dangers of riding without a helmet, I often notice riders who choose not to wear them. Out of curiosity, I recently looked up Ohio’s motorcycle helmet laws. Here, unless you’re 17 or younger, you don’t have to wear one. In fact, as of August 2024, only 17 states require you to wear a helmet while driving or riding on a motorcycle.

According to the IIHS, the following states (and Washington, D.C.) require motorcyclists to don a helmet:

  • Alabama
  • California
  • District of Columbia
  • Georgia
  • Lousiana
  • Maryland
  • Massachusetts
  • Mississippi
  • Nevada
  • New Jersey
  • New York
  • North Carolina
  • Oregon
  • Tennessee
  • Vermont
  • Virginia
  • Washington
  • West Virginia

Presently, the IIHS has a whole page dedicated to the dangers of riding a motorcycle. Markedly, the federal government estimates that wearing a helmet reduces the risk of dying in a crash by 37%.

According to a Traffic Safety Facts sheet published in July 2024, helmet laws seem to affect the incidence of motorcycle fatalities. As an illustration: In 2022, 54% of motorcyclists killed in states without universal helmet laws were not wearing helmets. This is a steep contrast to the 11% killed who were not wearing a helmet in states with universal helmet laws. Clearly, there’s a positive connection between helmet use and survival rates.

Incredibly, Illinois and New Hampshire have “no laws” regarding helmet use while operating or riding on a motorcycle.

Here’s the complete list of U.S. states and their associated helmet laws:

StateRequired to wear a helmetMotorcycle-type vehicles not covered
Alabamaall ridersall are covered
Alaska17 and youngerall are covered
Arizona17 and youngermoped, 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
Arkansas20 and youngerall are covered
Californiaall ridersall are covered
Colorado17 and younger and passengers 17 and youngerall are covered
Connecticut17 and youngerall are covered
Delaware18 and younger and passengers 18 and younger; novice riders and their passengers for the first two years after endorsementmoped, 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 Columbiaall ridersall are covered
Florida20 and youngermoped, 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
Georgiaall ridersmoped, 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
Hawaii17 and youngerall are covered
Idaho17 and youngermoped, 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
Illinoisno lawno law
Indiana17 and youngerall are covered
Iowano lawno law
Kansas17 and youngerall are covered
Kentucky20 and youngermoped, 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
Louisianaall ridersall are covered
Maine17 and youngermotorized bicycle, defined by the state as having brake horsepower of 1.5 or less and maximum unassisted speed of 25 mph; may have pedals
Marylandall ridersall are covered
Massachusettsall ridersall are covered
Michigan20 and youngermoped, 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
Minnesota17 and youngerall are covered
Mississippiall ridersall are covered
Missouri25 and youngermotorized 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
Montana17 and youngermoped, defined by the state as having brake horsepower of 2 or less and maximum unassisted speed of 30 mph
Nebraska20 and youngerall are covered
Nevadaall ridersall are covered
New Hampshireno lawno law
New Jerseyall ridersall are covered
New Mexico17 and youngermoped, defined by the state as having an engine displacement less than 50 cc and maximum speeds of 30 mph
New Yorkall ridersclass C limited use motorcycle, defined by the state as having maximum speeds of 20 mph
North Carolinaall ridersall are covered
North Dakota17 and youngerall are covered
Ohio17 and youngerall are covered
Oklahoma17 and youngermotor-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
Oregonall ridersall are covered
Pennsylvania20 and youngerall are covered
Rhode Island20 and youngerall are covered
South Carolina20 and youngermotorcycle three-wheel vehicle, defined by the state as having detachable side cars, saddle-type seat, and handlebars or motorcycle-type steering
South Dakota17 and youngerall are covered
Tennesseeall ridersall are covered
Texas20 and youngerall are covered
Utah20 and youngerall are covered
Vermontall ridersmotor-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
Virginiaall ridersall are covered
Washingtonall ridersall are covered
West Virginiaall ridersall are covered
Wisconsin17 and youngermoped, defined by the state as having an engine displacement of 130 cc or less, maximum speed of 30 mph, and fully operative pedals
Wyoming17 and youngermoped, 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
Source: Motorcycle helmet use laws | IIHS


Regardless of your state’s laws, consider donning a brain bucket for safety. Given that the statistics are already unfavorable to bikers, why make it worse via factors you can control?

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Editor-in-Chief

Sarah Kennedy

Sarah Kennedy is the Editor-in-Chief of MotorBiscuit. She joined the team as Managing Editor in 2021 and has more than 20 years of automotive and operations expertise. She held ASE certifications as an Automotive Service Consultant and Parts Specialist and was a licensed car salesperson for many years. Sarah often focuses on helping drivers navigate used car buying and vehicle ownership. She created “Shop Smarts,” a column for MOTOR Magazine, and was a contributor there for eight years. Her work earned her a Gold Medalist award from the American Society of Business Publication Editors in 2014 and Bronze Medalist awards from the International Automotive Media Competition in 2014 and 2015. She attended the Automotive Management Institute and earned her bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University.

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