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Thursday, Jul. 10, 2025

Does Minnesota require adults to wear helmets on motorcycles?

Deanna Pistono, MinnPost
no

Minnesota law requires motorcycle riders and passengers under the age of 18 to wear “protective headgear that complies with standards established by the commissioner of public safety.” According to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, motorcycle helmets must be approved by the state Department of Transportation. Eye protection, meanwhile, is required for all people who are driving or riding a motorcycle, regardless of age. 

A law passed by the Legislature in 2024 has broadened the ways motorcycles can navigate. As of July 1, motorcycles in Minnesota are now allowed to share lanes with cars, filter through stopped traffic and pass vehicles when traffic is under 25 mph. The only areas where filtering and passing are prohibited under the new law are roundabouts, school zones, freeway on-ramps and work zones where only one lane is operational.

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