Safety
Helmet
Eye
Protection
Rearview
Mirror
Fenders
Handlebar
Height
Passenger
Footrests*
Passenger
Handhold*
Turn Signals
Speedometer/
Odometer
Daytime
Headlight Use
Periodic
Inspection
Other
Alabama
•
•
•17
•
•32
Alaska
•p,27
•s,k
•11
•13
•19
•
•
•h
•25
Arizona
•4
•s,j
•
•
•25
Arkansas
•6
•
•
•
•
•
•
•34
California
•26
•
•14
•33
•h
•i
•25
•29
Colorado
•4,26
•
•
•
•25
Connecticut
•4,m,26
•s,j
•
•13
•19
•
•
•22a
•h
•25
Delaware
•7,26
•
•
•13
•
•
•20#
•
•29,44
Dist. of Col.
•1
•j
•
•13
•
•
•
•20
Florida
•f,26
•s
•
•19
•
•
Georgia
•26
•j
•
•40
•
•h
•
•32
Hawaii
•4,26
•j
•13#
•17
•
•#
•
•35
Idaho
•4
•
•13
•
Illinois
•
•
•39
•
•
•29,42
Indiana
•4,m,26
•4
•h
•
•
Iowa
•
•
•
•h
Kansas
•4,26
•c
•10
•
•h
•h
•25
Kentucky
•r,26
•s
•10
•
Louisiana
•26
•s,j
•10
•19
•
•#
•#
•
•36
Maine
•3,28
•
•13
•19
•#
•
•
Maryland
•26
•s,j
•11
•12#
•45
•#
•#
•h
•#
•24
•38,48
Massachusetts
•26
•s,j
•10
•13#
•19#
•
•h
•
Michigan
•d,26
•s,2,j
•
•18
•33
•25
Minnesota
•4,m,26
•s
•
•33
•
•25
•30
Mississippi
•26
•
•13#
Missouri
•26
•17#
•
•41,42
Montana
•4,26
•
•
•
•
Nebraska
•26
•13
•16
•
Nevada
•26
•j
•11
•13
•14
•
•h
•30
New Hampshire
•s,j
•
•13#
•
•#
•h
•#
•
New Jersey
•1,26
•s,j
•
•12u
•19
•33
•u
New Mexico
•4,26
•s,j
•
•33
•25
New York
•26
•s
•
•19
•h
•20h
•
•
North Carolina
•26
•
•
•20
•
•
North Dakota
•4,t,26
•
•13
•19
•
•
Ohio
•4,8,t,26
•j
•
•17,19
•
•h
•25
Oklahoma
•4,26
•s,j
•11
•13
•15
•
•37
•20
•h
•42
Oregon
•26
•
•13
•
•e
•
•25
•29
Pennsylvania
•g,26
•
•
•13#
•
•
•20#/22h
•h
•
•38
Rhode Island
•5,23
•s
•(10#)
•13#
•17
•46,33b
•
•20a#
•
•21b
South Carolina
•1,6
•6,s,j
•
•46
•
South Dakota
•4,26
•s,j
•
•
•30
Tennessee
•26
•j
•
•33
•
•29
Texas
•q,26
•
•17#
•
•
•h
•
•36,44
Utah
•6,26
•10
•13#
•19
•
•#
•a,h#
•22
•
Vermont
•26
•s,j
•#
•13#
•17
•
•#
•
Virginia
•27
•s,j
•
•
•
•43,47
Washington
•26
•s,j
•11
•13
•18
•
•h
•
•25
•30,36
West Virginia
•27
•
•
•17
•
•h#
•22#
•
•
•42
Wisconsin
•4,m,26
•s,k
•
•12
•18
•
•
•
•25
•31,44
Wyoming
•4,23
•10
•19
•
•
• Requirement in law
If carrying a passenger
1. Reflectorization
2. Where speeds exceed 35 mph
3. Under 18 yrs.; for 1 yr. after obtaining license; with
learner’s permit & passengers of operators so required
4. Under 18 yrs.
5. Operators under 21 yrs.; for 1 yr. after obtaining license;
& all passengers
6. Under 21 yrs.
7. Possession by all, wear under 19 yrs. & by instruction
permit holders
8. Temporary instruction permit holders & novice
license holders
9. Prohibited except for communication
10. Left side
11. Left and right side
12. On rear wheel or wheels
13. On both wheels
14. Maximum of 6” above shoulder height
15. Not higher than operator's eye level
16. Maximum of 15" above mounting point
17. Maximum of 15” above seat
18. Maximum of 30” above seat
19. Handgrips not above shoulder height
20. Speedometer
21. Backrest
22. Odometer
23. Requires ANSI compliance
24. Upon transfer of title
25. Random
26. Requires FMVSS 218 compliance
27. Requires Snell, ANSI or DOT compliance
28. Requires ANSI or FMVSS 218 compliance
29. Brake light may flash as specified in law
30. Brake light may display blue light not exceeding 1” in
diameter
31. Deceleration amber warning light center mounted on
rear which pulses as specified in law allowed
32. Footwear required
33. Passenger feet must be on footrests
34. Minimum passenger age of 8 yrs.
35. Minimum passenger age of 7 yrs.
36. Minimum passenger age of 5 yrs.
37. For 2005 or later model year motorcycle
38. Auxiliary lighting including blue dot illumination,
standard bulb running lights and LED pods/strips may
be added as specified in law
39. Handgrips not higher than head height
40. Maximum of 25” above seat
41. Brake light may display varying brightness for not
more than 5 seconds when applied
42. Auxiliary lighting including amber & white
illumination, standard bulb running lights, or LED
pods/strips may be added as specified in law
43. Modulating brake light allowed
44. Ground effect lighting allowed as specified in law
45. Maximum of 20” above seat
46. Passenger must be able to reach footrests
47. Auxiliary lighting including amber or red illumination,
standard bulb running lights, or LED pods/strips may
be added as specified in law
48. Modulating headlamp allowed
a. If originally equipped by manufacturer
b. For passenger under age 12
c. For passengers under 18 yrs. & all operators except if
equipped with windscreen at least 10” high
d. Except for 21 & over with rider ed or having held
motorcycle endorsement for at least 2 yrs. & each
rider is insured for 1
st
party medical benefits of at least
$20,000
e. For motorcycle manufactured after 1/1/73 or before
1973 during limited visibility
f. Except for 21 yrs. & over with health insurance with
$10,000 medical benefits for injuries
g. Except for 21 yrs. & over with rider ed or 2 yrs. after
obtaining license; passengers 21 & over exempt if
operator exempt
h. For motorcycle manufactured after date specified in
law (all at least 20 yrs. ago)
i. Manufacturer requirement for motorcycle
manufactured after 1/1/78
j. Except if equipped with windscreen
k. Except if equipped with windscreen 15" or higher
m. Instructional permit holders
n. Prohibited in both ears simultaneously
o. Except helmets with speakers
p. Operators under 18 yrs., instruction permit holders; &
all passengers
q. Except for 21 yrs. & over with rider ed or with health
insurance with medical benefits for motorcycle related
injuries
r. Under 21 yrs., operators with instruction permit, &
those having held motorcycle license less than 1 yr.
s. Operator only
t. If required for operator, required for passenger
u. For 3-wheeled motorcycles
v. Except for hearing protection
# Required by inspection regulations
Many state inspection regulations require that any
equipment installed on a motorcycle must function
properly even though the equipment is not required by
law.
This chart is provided by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation Government Relations Office and is updated annually. Please contact the Motorcycle Safety Foundation for
additional information concerning motorcycle equipment requirements. Although this chart represents information from the most authoritative sources available as of the date
shown above, the Motorcycle Safety Foundation is not responsible for accuracy or completeness. Some of the provisions summarized herein have exceptions and may require
further explanation. It is necessary to refer to the actual laws and regulations for specific details.
Government Relations Office • 1235 South Clark Street, Suite 600 • Arlington, Virginia 22202-3261 • (703) 416-0444
Executive Office • 2 Jenner, Suite 150 • Irvine, California 92618-3806 • (949) 727-3227
STATE ON-HIGHWAY MOTORCYCLE EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS
JULY 2020