The Motorcycle Helmet
MCL 257.658 — a helmet unless 21, experienced or trained, and insured
In Michigan, a person operating or riding on a motorcycle must wear a crash helmet, except as the section provides for people 21 years of age or older.
The over 21 exception. An operator 21 or older need not wear a helmet if they have held a motorcycle endorsement for not less than 2 years or passed a motorcycle safety course, and the operator or rider has first-party medical benefits security of not less than $20,000.00. A rider 21 or older need not wear one if the rider or operator has that security.
Younger riders. A person less than 19 years of age operating a moped on a public thoroughfare must wear a crash helmet.
| The assumption | What the law actually does |
|---|---|
| The assumptionMichigan repealed its helmet law | What the law actually doesThe helmet rule stands, with an exception for riders 21 or older who meet its conditions |
| The assumptionAge alone is enough to ride without one | What the law actually doesExperience or a course, and medical coverage, are conditions too |
Licensing, endorsement and equipment rules for motorcycles, and the separate rules for mopeds and electric bicycles, are not on this page. Whether a particular helmet meets the standard, or an exception applies to a particular rider, is a question for a licensed Michigan attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- MCL 257.658 — Riding on a motorcycle or moped; crash helmets
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Michigan attorney.