The Motorcycle Helmet
75 Pa.C.S. 3525 — a helmet unless 21 and experienced or trained, and eye protection for all
In Pennsylvania, every motorcycle rider wears protective headgear unless an exception applies, and every operator and rider wears approved eye protection.
Who may ride without a helmet. The headgear rule does not apply to a person 21 years of age or older who has been licensed to operate a motorcycle for not less than two full calendar years, or who has completed an approved motorcycle rider safety course, to a passenger 21 or older riding with an exempt operator, or to anyone in a three-wheeled motorcycle with an enclosed cab.
Eye protection for everyone. No person operates or rides on a motorcycle without an approved eye-protective device, except on a motorized pedalcycle or a three-wheeled motorcycle with an enclosed cab.
Approved equipment. The department approves headgear and eye-protective devices and publishes lists of those approved by name and type.
| The assumption | What the law actually does |
|---|---|
| The assumptionEvery adult may ride without a helmet | What the law actually doesOnly from 21, and only with two full calendar years licensed or an approved safety course |
| The assumptionA passenger rides under the operator's exemption whatever the age | What the law actually doesA passenger is exempt only if the operator is exempt and the passenger is 21 or older |
Motorcycle licensing, insurance and equipment beyond headgear and eye protection are not all on this page. What a particular situation carries is a question for a licensed Pennsylvania attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- 75 Pa.C.S. 3525 — Protective equipment for motorcycle riders
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Pennsylvania attorney.