Which States Have Motorcycle Helmet Laws? How Do They Impact Your Insurance?
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In most states, it's legal to ride a motorcycle without a helmet if you're at least 21 years old.
Only 17 states and the District of Columbia have laws that require all motorcycle riders to wear helmets.
Most of these states require riders to wear helmets that meet federal Department of Transportation (DOT) standards. All DOT-compliant helmets come with a certification label but vary widely in cost and quality.
No matter where you live, wearing a helmet does not directly affect your motorcycle insurance rates. However, helmets do reduce the severity of injuries and may save you from having to file a claim, which will cost you more later in premiums.
Motorcycle helmet laws by state
Iowa, Illinois and New Hampshire are the only states where motorcycle helmets are entirely optional. Thirty other states require helmets only for motorcycle riders under a specific age, usually 21 or 18. The laws in 17 states and the District of Columbia require helmets for all riders, regardless of age. The same laws often apply to other two-wheeled vehicles, such as mopeds and scooters.
Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and Highway Loss Data Institute
States that require helmets for everyone might have cheaper medical-related claim costs, which can reduce insurance costs. But that savings likely has minimal or no impact on where riders live. Riders don't typically choose which state to live in based on where they can save on motorcycle insurance.
No matter how safe or experienced a rider is, the reality is that about 40 percent of all motorcycle deaths involve only one motorcycle and no other vehicle.
Most motorcycle insurance policies have optional accessory coverage, which covers the cost of a helmet. It's worth considering, since helmets and other motorcycle gear can cost hundreds of dollars.
What to look for when buying a motorcycle helmet
In states where a motorcycle helmet is required, the law often states the helmet must be DOT approved. This means it has to comply with the Department of Transportation's standards. While both full-face and half-face helmets can meet DOT standards, the full-face options offer superior protection.
DOT, Snell and ECE 22.05 are three of the most common standards in motorcycle helmet construction, each with its own rules for energy absorption, penetration resistance and retention.
Non-DOT motorcycle helmets may still protect you, but you would need to check your state's regulations to determine whether it's legal.
In addition, most states, including some of those with no helmet laws, require you to wear eye protection while on the road (some will exempt you if you have a windscreen).
If you're concerned about finding the safest gear, you may want to consider finding a helmet that is also Snell approved. They tend to cost more than just DOT-approved helmets, because Snell has more rigorous standards than the DOT.
Avoid buying used helmets, as it can be difficult to know how much wear and tear it has. Brand-new helmets cost more, but the difference is minimal compared to the potential head injuries with a faulty helmet. Any helmet you buy should fit snugly around your entire head. Since every style and brand of helmet comes with its own sizing quirks, try some on in person before buying one online. Appropriate helmet fit is as important as the quality.
How much does a motorcycle helmet cost?
The cost of a motorcycle helmet varies significantly by style, the safety standards it meets and additional features, such as Bluetooth speakers.
For a standard DOT-approved new motorcycle helmet, the cost typically starts around $125. A helmet that is also Snell approved can easily cost around $500. But that often means the helmet was built using MIPS (multidirectional impact protection system) technology, which is designed to reduce and redirect the energy of an impact. More expensive helmets also usually come with additional perks, such as speakers.
When do you need to replace a motorcycle helmet?
Like motorcycles, helmets require some upkeep to maintain their effectiveness.
The Snell Foundation, which has researched helmets for motorcycles and other vehicles since 1957, recommends replacing your helmet every five years, in addition to after a crash.
Glues, resins and other materials used to make helmets can deteriorate over time and from exposure to natural hair oils and cosmetics. While drops of a few feet shouldn't compromise a motorcycle helmet, they are technically meant for one use, meaning they must be replaced after a crash or other significant trauma.
Even if an unoccupied helmet falls off the back of a moving motorcycle, the impact could compromise the helmet's integrity and give you good reason to get a new one, according to Snell.
The impact of helmet use on motorcycle insurance rates
Your personal helmet habits don't affect motorcycle insurance rates. When you request a quote online, insurance companies won't ask whether you own or wear a helmet, even in states that require all riders to wear helmets. That's because insurance carriers can't police which policyholders are using a helmet and which aren't.
Choosing to wear a helmet can, however, stop your future premiums from rising by preventing injury-related claims. Motorcycle insurance companies do consider the broad severity, frequency and total losses related to claims, which is why states with helmet laws — and more wearers — have relatively lower rates.
How wearing a helmet can save you money on motorcycle insurance
Wearing a helmet can reduce the extent of your injuries and medical bills from an accident. This, in turn, can reduce how much motorcycle insurance companies raise your rates at renewal.
You have to buy motorcycle insurance every year, so if you've filed a claim, it's possible that your premium will go up. The amount of the increase can depend on the frequency and severity of the claims you file.
Why the pool of helmet-wearing riders matters
Helmet use across a state definitely has an impact on motorcycle insurance rates. In 2012, Michigan went from requiring helmets for all riders to only riders 20 or younger. In the year following that change, the medical payments claim severity for motorcyclists in Michigan increased by 22%, according to a study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and Highway Loss Data Institute.
Regardless of the cause, an increase in the cost of claims for any insurance often leads to higher premiums. This is especially true for motorcycle insurance.
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