Motorcycle Helmet Laws

Compare motorcycle helmet requirements (universal, partial, or none), age thresholds, and penalties across all 50 states.

50 States3 data columnsLast updated: 2025-12-10

Click any column header to sort ascending or descending. Click again to reverse, and a third time to reset.

State	Requirement	Age Threshold	Penalty
AL - Alabama	Universal	All riders	Fine up to $100
AK - Alaska	Partial	Under 18	Fine up to $300
AZ - Arizona	Partial	Under 18	Fine up to $250
AR - Arkansas	Partial	Under 21	Fine up to $100
CA - California	Universal	All riders	Fine up to $250 + 1 point
CO - Colorado	Partial	Under 18	Fine up to $100
CT - Connecticut	Partial	Under 18	Fine up to $90
DE - Delaware	Partial	Under 19 or first 2 years of licensure	Fine up to $25
FL - Florida	Partial	Under 21 (or 21+ without $10k medical insurance)	Fine up to $500
GA - Georgia	Universal	All riders	Fine up to $1,000 + 1 point
HI - Hawaii	Partial	Under 18	Fine up to $200
ID - Idaho	Partial	Under 18	Fine up to $100
IL - Illinois	None	No requirement (eye protection required)	N/A
IN - Indiana	Partial	Under 18	Fine up to $500
IA - Iowa	None	No requirement	N/A
KS - Kansas	Partial	Under 18	Fine up to $100
KY - Kentucky	Partial	Under 21 (or no insurance)	Fine up to $100
LA - Louisiana	Universal	All riders	Fine up to $100
ME - Maine	Partial	Under 18 (or first year of licensure)	Fine up to $100
MD - Maryland	Universal	All riders	Fine up to $500
MA - Massachusetts	Universal	All riders	Fine up to $35
MI - Michigan	Partial	Under 21 (or 21+ without extra insurance + 2yr experience)	Fine up to $200
MN - Minnesota	Partial	Under 18	Fine up to $100
MS - Mississippi	Universal	All riders	Fine up to $100
MO - Missouri	Partial	Under 26 (changed 2020)	Fine up to $100
MT - Montana	Partial	Under 18	Fine up to $100
NE - Nebraska	Universal	All riders	Fine up to $100
NV - Nevada	Universal	All riders	Fine up to $205
NH - New Hampshire	Partial	Under 18	Fine up to $100
NJ - New Jersey	Universal	All riders	Fine up to $50
NM - New Mexico	Partial	Under 18	Fine up to $300
NY - New York	Universal	All riders	Fine up to $100 + 2 points
NC - North Carolina	Universal	All riders	Fine up to $25.50
ND - North Dakota	Partial	Under 18	Fine up to $20
OH - Ohio	Partial	Under 18 (or novice riders first year)	Fine up to $150
OK - Oklahoma	Partial	Under 18	Fine up to $100
OR - Oregon	Universal	All riders	Fine up to $440
PA - Pennsylvania	Partial	Under 21 (or under 2 years experience)	Fine up to $25
RI - Rhode Island	Partial	Under 21 (or first year riders)	Fine up to $85
SC - South Carolina	Partial	Under 21	Fine up to $100
SD - South Dakota	Partial	Under 18	Fine up to $120
TN - Tennessee	Universal	All riders	Fine up to $50
TX - Texas	Partial	Under 21 (or 21+ without training course/insurance)	Fine up to $200
UT - Utah	Partial	Under 18	Fine up to $100
VT - Vermont	Universal	All riders	Fine up to $250
VA - Virginia	Universal	All riders	Fine up to $250
WA - Washington	Universal	All riders	Fine up to $250
WV - West Virginia	Universal	All riders	Fine up to $100
WI - Wisconsin	Partial	Under 18 (or with instruction permit)	Fine up to $200
WY - Wyoming	Partial	Under 18	Fine up to $100

This information is provided for general educational purposes only and may not reflect the most recent legislative changes. Always verify current law with official state sources or consult a licensed attorney in the relevant jurisdiction.