The Motorcycle Helmet
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 302.020 — headgear under twenty-six, and on an instruction permit
In Missouri, every person under twenty-six years of age operating or riding as a passenger on a motorcycle on a highway must wear protective headgear while the vehicle is in motion, and so must an operator of any age riding on an instruction permit.
No stop just to check. No person may be stopped, inspected or detained solely to determine compliance with the headgear rule, and no political subdivision may impose its own headgear requirement.
| The assumption | What the law actually does |
|---|---|
| The assumptionEvery rider in Missouri needs a helmet | What the law actually doesRiders under twenty-six, and operators on an instruction permit |
| The assumptionAn officer can stop a rider to check | What the law actually doesNot solely to determine compliance with the headgear rule |
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 Missouri attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- Mo. Rev. Stat. § 302.020 — Motorcycle license; protective headgear
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Missouri attorney.