Who must wear a helmet in Indiana, the penalties for not wearing one, and the eye-protection rules every rider should know.
Indiana has a partial motorcycle helmet law. A helmet is required by law for every motorcycle operator and passenger under the age of 18, and for every motorcycle learner's permit holder of any age (Indiana MOM, Ride Safe Indiana licensing pages).
Motorcycle operators 18 and older who hold a full motorcycle endorsement are not required by Indiana law to wear a helmet. The Indiana Motorcycle Operator Manual still strongly urges every rider to wear one: helmeted riders are three times more likely to survive a head injury (Indiana MOM p.2).
You must wear a helmet if you are operating or riding as a passenger on a motorcycle and you are under 18, or if you are riding under a motorcycle learner's permit at any age.
A permit holder's helmet must meet the standards established by the U.S. Department of Transportation under 49 CFR 571.218 — the same DOT standard used for the under-18 requirement.
Riding without a required helmet — for example, as an under-18 rider or as a learner's permit holder — is a violation of Indiana law and can bring a fine and other penalties. A learner's permit holder caught riding without a DOT helmet, after dark, or carrying a passenger is also violating the conditions of the permit. Confirm current fine amounts with the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
Indiana law also requires protective eyewear — glasses, goggles or a transparent face shield — for motorcycle operators and passengers under 18, and for learner's permit holders, unless the motorcycle is equipped with a windshield.
Whatever your age, the manual stresses that good eye or face protection must be free of scratches, give a clear view to either side, and fasten securely; a face shield protects your whole face, while goggles protect only your eyes (Indiana MOM p.3).
A legal motorcycle helmet must meet the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) FMVSS 218 standard. Look for the "DOT" certification label on the back. Helmets that meet stricter Snell or ECE standards offer additional protection. Avoid novelty helmets — they are not legal head protection.
Source: Some test details are confirmed by the state agency; the rest reflect the consensus of major rider-education sources. 25 questions / 80% confirmed in an official BMV search snippet. Indiana licensing is run through Ride Safe Indiana, a program within the BMV. A learner's permit holder must wear a DOT helmet, ride only in daylight, and carry no passengers.