Maryland Motorcycle Helmet Law 2025

Maryland’s motorcycle helmet law in 2025 requires all riders to wear a DOT-approved motorcycle helmet while riding. The law applies to all riders, regardless of age and experience level. Maryland is one of 19 states in the US that have similar universal motorcycle helmet laws. 

Maryland’s Motorcycle Helmet Safety Laws

The full text of Maryland’s helmet law is in Section 21-1306 of the Maryland Transportation Code. It states that all individuals riding motorcycles must wear appropriate headgear unless the motorcycle they are on has a separate enclosed cab. 

In addition to the helmet laws, Section 21-1306(c) establishes that all riders must wear eye protection and have a windscreen on their motorcycles. Further text of the law grants The Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration power to adopt and enforce standards for helmet and eye protection quality. 

What Counts as an Appropriate Helmet?

The Motor Vehicle Administration has adopted DOT approval for helmets, so as long as your motorcycle helmet is DOT-approved, it is legally compliant in Maryland. You must also have a permanent chin strap on the helmet. 

Penalty for Not Wearing a Motorcycle Helmet in Maryland

According to Section 27-101 of the MD Transportation Code, failing to wear a helmet is a misdemeanor offense and can carry a fine of between $500. This is a fairly steep fine compared to many other states. Failing to wear a helmet will not put points on your license, but a traffic ticket on your record could cause your insurance rates to go up.  

Will Not Wearing a Helmet Affect My Compensation After an Accident?

No, the fact that you were not wearing a helmet cannot diminish the amount of compensation you can recover from a personal injury claim after an accident in Maryland. Section 21-1306(e)(1) clearly states that failing to wear a helmet does not constitute evidence of contributory negligence, cannot limit an at-fault party’s liability, and cannot diminish the recovery of damages.  

In practical terms, this means that insurance companies and courts cannot turn around and say you are responsible for your injuries if you weren’t wearing a helmet. This limitation is especially important for a state like Maryland that practices contributory negligence, in which sharing any fault can completely bar injury victims from recovering financial compensation. Otherwise, not wearing a helmet could prevent you from recovering any money at all.  

However, the attorneys at Law Tigers recommend you wear a helmet regardless of insurance. Helmets drastically reduce the risk of severe or fatal injury after a motorcycle accident. The NHTSA estimates that motorcycle helmets reduce the risk of fatal injury by as much as 42 percent and reduce the risk of head injury by 69 percent.