Connecticut Motorcycle Helmet Laws 2025
Connecticut requires motorcyclists under 21 to wear a Department of Transportation (DOT)-approved helmet while riding. If you are 21 or older, wearing a helmet is your choice under state law. Whether you are a new rider or have been on the road for years, understanding these requirements helps you stay compliant and protected. This can be important if you ever need guidance from a New Haven motorcycle accident lawyer after a crash.
Who Is Required to Wear a Motorcycle Helmet in Connecticut?
As of October 1, 2025, Connecticut law requires all motorcyclists under the age of 21 to wear a helmet. This represents a change from previous regulations, which set the cutoff at 18. The same legislation also updated rules for younger riders on bicycles, scooters, and skateboards, raising the helmet requirement to those 18 and under.
If you fall into this age group, your helmet must meet safety standards established by the DOT. It also needs to have a chin strap that is securely fastened whenever you are riding.
Helmets Provide Essential Protection During a Crash
If you are 21 or older, you are not legally required to wear a motorcycle helmet in Connecticut. However, that doesn’t mean going without one is the safest choice.
Motorcycle accidents expose riders to dangers that simply do not exist inside a car. There is no frame absorbing impact, no airbags deploying, and no seatbelt keeping you in place. When a crash happens, your body meets pavement, vehicles, or other obstacles with nothing in between.
Your head is especially vulnerable. A helmet acts as a barrier between your skull and the forces generated during a collision. It absorbs and distributes impact energy, reducing the trauma transmitted to your brain. Head injuries from motorcycle crashes can range from concussions to severe traumatic brain injuries that affect memory, motor function, and quality of life permanently. In some cases, these injuries can be fatal.
Penalties for Violating Connecticut’s Helmet Laws
If you are required to wear a helmet and don’t, you face financial consequences. A first offense carries a fine of $90, while repeat violations can result in fines up to $250. Beyond the immediate cost, you may also accumulate points on your license and see your insurance rates climb. These penalties add up quickly and are entirely avoidable by wearing the proper gear.
How Helmet Use Affects Your Injury Claim After a Crash
If you were not legally required to wear a helmet, your choice to ride without one generally shouldn’t hurt your injury claim in the event of the accident. That said, insurers often look for ways to reduce what they owe, and they could attempt to use this fact against you.
Under Connecticut’s comparative negligence statute, your compensation can be reduced if you are found partially responsible for your injuries. If an insurance company argues that a helmet would have prevented or lessened your injuries—and you were legally required to wear one—this could affect your settlement’s value.
A New Haven motorcycle accident attorney can push back against attempts to shift blame onto you and keep the focus where it belongs: on the negligent conduct that caused the crash in the first place. Schedule a free consultation to discuss your motorcycle accident with LTKE Law and learn what options are available to you under Connecticut law.