Who must wear a helmet in Michigan, the penalties for not wearing one, and the eye-protection rules every rider should know.
Michigan has a partial motorcycle helmet law. A helmet is always required if you are under 21, if you are taking a state-approved rider education course, or if you are taking a state-approved rider skills test (MCL 257.658(5)).
A rider 21 or older may legally ride without a helmet only if they have held the CY motorcycle endorsement for more than two years (or passed an approved rider education course) AND carry at least $20,000 in first-party medical benefits. An operator carrying a passenger must have at least $20,000 per person per occurrence.
Every rider under 21 must wear a U.S. DOT-approved helmet, with no exception. Anyone taking a rider course or skills test must wear one regardless of age.
A motorcycle passenger must also wear an approved helmet unless they are 21 or older and meet the same insurance and experience conditions as an exempt operator. A moped operator under age 19 must wear a crash helmet (MCL 257.658(4)).
Riding without a required helmet violates Michigan law and can bring fines and points. The skills test will not be given at all if you are not wearing a DOT-approved helmet. Confirm current fine amounts with the Michigan Secretary of State.
If you operate a motorcycle over 35 mph and it is not equipped with a windshield, you must wear goggles with transparent lenses, eyeglasses, or a transparent, shatter-resistant face shield of sufficient size to protect your eyes from airborne materials and road debris (MCL 257.708a).
A face shield protects your whole face, while goggles protect only your eyes; a windshield is not a substitute for a face shield. Never wear tinted eye protection at night or any time little light is available.
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: Test details reflect the consensus of major rider-education sources — confirm with the state agency before your visit. The Michigan Motorcycle Operator Manual (SOS-116, Rev. May 2024) does not publish a question count or passing score. 20 questions / 16 to pass (80%) is the strong multi-site practice consensus and was confirmed by the site owner for the displayed format.