Missouri: Do adults have to wear motorcycle helmets?
Missouri requires helmets for riders under 26 and for anyone riding on an instruction permit.
Since August 28, 2020, operators and passengers 26 or older may ride without a helmet unless they hold only an instruction permit. The current statute does not tie this to health insurance, despite reports of an insurance condition. Cities and counties may not add their own helmet rules, and police may not stop a rider just to check helmet use.
Conditions
- Riders under 26 must wear a helmet
- Instruction permit holders of any age must wear a helmet
What the law says
Every person under twenty-six years of age who is operating or riding as a passenger on any motorcycle or motortricycle, as defined in section 301.010, upon any highway of this state shall wear protective headgear at all times the vehicle is in motion; except that, any person twenty-six years of age or older operating any motorcycle or motortricycle who has been issued an instruction permit shall wear protective headgear at all times the vehicle is in motion.
Sources
- Mo. Rev. Stat. § 302.020.2 Official · revisor.mo.gov
Confirm with the state
- Agency
- Missouri Department of Revenue
- Website
- dor.mo.gov
How bordering states compare
- Arkansas Only some ridersArkansas requires protective headgear for motorcycle operators and passengers under 21.
- Illinois No helmet lawIllinois has no motorcycle helmet law; riders and passengers must wear eye protection instead.
- Iowa No helmet lawIowa has no motorcycle helmet law for riders or passengers of any age.
- Kansas Only some ridersKansas requires helmets only for motorcycle riders and passengers under 18.
- Kentucky Only some ridersKentucky requires helmets for riders and passengers under 21, permit holders, and riders licensed less than one year.
- Nebraska Only some ridersNebraska requires helmets for riders under 21 and for adults who haven't completed a required safety course.
- Oklahoma Only some ridersOklahoma requires helmets only for motorcycle operators and riders under 18.
- Tennessee All ridersTennessee requires every motorcycle operator and passenger to wear a helmet, regardless of age.