Michigan Motorcycle Helmet Law

The Motorcycle Legal Minute™ was created by Jason Waechter, THE Motorcycle Lawyer, to explain Michigan’s motorcycle law in a short and easy to understand way.

Michigan Motorcycle Helmet Law

Let’s talk about Michigan’s Helmet Law. A motorcycle operator can ride without a helmet if they meet three requirements:

1. Be at least 21 years old;

2. Have at least $20,000 of this special insurance called ‘First-Party Medical Benefits’ coverage;  

AND

3. Have had a motorcycle endorsement for more than two years OR have earned a motorcycle endorsement by passing a certified motorcycle safety course.

You Need Special Insurance to Ride Without a Helmet in Michigan

For a passenger to ride without a helmet, they too must be at least 21 years old, and the motorcyclist must have another $20,000 of the First Party Medical Coverage. If the passenger has their own on his/her motorcycle, that will suffice.

Here are some FAQ’s related to Michigan’s Helmet Law:

Does my health insurance count?

Do I have to carry proof of my safety class?

Do out-of-state bikers have to get this special insurance to be legal?

Can the cops stop me just because I’m not wearing a helmet?

No Health insurance does not meet the requirement.  

You do not have to carry proof of passing a safety class. 

Out-of-state motorcyclists do not have to buy this insurance.  

And the police cannot stop you just because you are not wearing a helmet.

Here is the Michigan statute on our helmet law:

MCL 257.658 Riding on seat of bicycle, motorcycle, moped, electric skateboard, or electric personal assistive mobility device; number of persons; wearing of crash helmet; conditions; rules; requirements for autocycle.

  (1) A person propelling a bicycle or operating a motorcycle or moped shall not ride other than upon and astride a permanent and regular seat attached to that vehicle.

  (2) A bicycle or motorcycle shall not be used to carry more persons at 1 time than the number for which it is designed and equipped.

  (3) An electric personal assistive mobility device or an electric skateboard shall not be used to carry more than 1 person at a time.

  (4) A person less than 19 years of age operating a moped on a public thoroughfare shall wear a crash helmet on his or her head. A person less than 19 years of age operating an electric skateboard shall wear a crash helmet on his or her head. Except as provided in subsection (5), a person operating or riding on a motorcycle shall wear a crash helmet on his or her head.

  (5) The following conditions apply to a person 21 years of age or older operating or riding on a motorcycle, as applicable:

  (a) A person who is operating a motorcycle is not required to wear a crash helmet on his or her head if he or she has had a motorcycle endorsement on his or her operator's or chauffeur's license for not less than 2 years or the person passes a motorcycle safety course conducted under section 811a or 811b and satisfies the requirements of subdivision (c).

  (b) A person who is riding on a motorcycle is not required to wear a crash helmet on his or her head if the person or the operator of the motorcycle satisfies the requirements of subdivision (c).

  (c) A person who is operating a motorcycle and a person who is riding on a motorcycle are not required to wear crash helmets on their heads if the operator of the motorcycle or the rider has in effect security for the first-party medical benefits payable in the event that he or she is involved in a motorcycle accident, as provided in section 3103 of the insurance code of 1956, 1956 PA 218, MCL 500.3103, in 1 of the following amounts, as applicable:

  (i) A motorcycle operator without a rider, not less than $20,000.00.

  (ii) A motorcycle operator with a rider, not less than $20,000.00 per person per occurrence. However, if the rider has security in an amount not less than $20,000.00, then the operator is only required to have security in the amount of not less than $20,000.00.

  (6) Crash helmets shall be approved by the department of state police. The department of state police shall promulgate rules for the implementation of this section under the administrative procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA 306, MCL 24.201 to 24.328. Rules in effect on June 1, 1970, apply to helmets required by this act.

  (7) The crash helmet requirements under this section do not apply to a person operating or riding in an autocycle if the vehicle is equipped with a roof that meets or exceeds standards for a crash helmet.

  (8) A person operating or riding in an autocycle shall wear seat belts when on a public highway in this state.

  (9) A person under the age of 12 shall not operate an electric skateboard on a public highway or street.

In 2012, Michigan Repealed it's Mandatory Helmet Law

Michigan Helmet Law 2022

Michigan Helmet Law 2022 remains as it after the 2012 Helemt Law change.

Michigan Helmet Law 2023

Michigan legislature did not introduce new legislation governing helmet law in 2023. The helmet law remains the same since the new helmet law of 2012.

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