Helmet Rules in Pennsylvania

If you ride a motorcycle, an ATV, or an autocycle in Pennsylvania, you may be wondering what the applicable helmet laws are. You can find all the information you need here.

Is PA a No Helmet State?

The short answer is yes, but with exceptions. If you are at least 21 years old and a motorcyclist in PA and have either (1) been issued a motorcycle license for two full years or (2) completed a Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) or Motorcycle Safety Foundation class, then you don’t legally need to wear a helmet to ride a motorcycle in the state. All people with a learner’s motorcycle permit must wear a helmet and eye protection, no matter what their age is.

Your helmet, if required, must be approved by the United States Department of Transportation (DOT), which means that it passed rigorous testing to prove that it is effective in the case of a motorcycle accident. The DOT sticker must be affixed to the outer shell of the helmet. The helmet must also be permanently labeled with the name or identity of the manufacturer, exact model number of the helmet, size, and the month and year that the helmet was manufactured. This information can be on the inside of the helmet, but must be clearly labeled so that it can be read without taking out any padding or other permanent parts of the helmet. Helmets equipped with a label from the Snell Memorial Foundation provide an added assurance of quality.

Do You Have To Wear A Helmet on An ATV?

In the state of Pennsylvania, you must wear a helmet while operating or riding an ATV. Your helmet must be securely fastened and DOT-approved. Municipal and state police have the authority to enforce Pennsylvania’s ATV law on private property.

Do You Have to Wear A Helmet on A Slingshot?

In 2016, a law took effect in PA that created a new category of motorcycles called the autocycle. An example of an autocycle is the Polaris Slingshot. Under Pennsylvania law, an autocycle is a three-wheeled motorcycle that has a steering wheel and seating that does not require the rider to straddle or sit astride. Similar to cars, an autocycle has bucket seats, seat belts, and gas and brake pedals. Autocycles are registered with the state as motorcycles.

In Pennsylvania, you only need a class C driver’s license to operate an autocycle. A motorcycle license of class M is not required. However, you can’t take a driver’s test in an autocycle for any type of license, including a Class C or Class M license. A Class C driver’s test must be taken in a Class C passenger vehicle.

Since it is legally considered a motorcycle, riders of a Slingshot must follow all motorcycle laws, including the helmet laws for motorcycles discussed above. Slingshot riders are prohibited from carrying passengers who are under the age of eight years old.