Montana · MT · Vehicles
Montana: Do adults have to wear motorcycle helmets?
Only some riders
Montana requires helmets only for motorcycle operators and passengers under 18.
Adults 18 and older may ride without a helmet. The same under-18 rule covers mopeds, motorized scooters and quadricycles. Riders in a fully enclosed autocycle are exempt, and an operator may not carry an unhelmeted passenger under 18.
Conditions
- Riders under 18 must wear a helmet
What the law says
(1) (a) Except as provided in subsection (1)(b), an operator and passenger under 18 years of age of a motorcycle, moped, motorized scooter, or quadricycle operated on the streets or highways of this state shall wear protective headgear on the head.
Sources
- Mont. Code Ann. § 61-9-417 (2025) Official · mca.legmt.gov
Confirm with the state
- Agency
- Montana Department of Justice, Motor Vehicle Division
- Website
- dojmt.gov
How bordering states compare
- Idaho Only some ridersIdaho requires helmets only for motorcycle operators and riders under 18.
- North Dakota Only some ridersNorth Dakota requires helmets only for riders under 18 and for any passenger riding with an under-18 operator.
- South Dakota Only some ridersSouth Dakota requires helmets only for motorcycle operators and passengers under 18.
- Wyoming Only some ridersWyoming requires helmets only for motorcycle operators and passengers under 18.