Helmet rules in Europe

No data in official sources.

Riding without a helmet can get you a fine, but we have not confirmed the details (exactly who it applies to). Always wear a helmet on a motorcycle or scooter.

Bicycle – helmets are not compulsory for adults and children aged 12 and over (but it’s worth wearing one).

• motorcycle (including with a sidecar)
• moped
• tricycles and quadricycles (light and heavy)
• bicycle – children up to 12

• bicycle
• e-scooter, Segway, unicycle

• motorcycle (including with a sidecar, unless it has a cab and seat belts)
• moped
• tricycles and quadricycles (without a cab)
• fast e-bike (speed pedelec) – bicycle or moped helmet

Motorcyclists and passengers must also wear gloves, a long-sleeved jacket, long trousers and boots that protect the ankles.

No data in official sources.

• motorcycle and light motorcycle – rider and passenger
• moped – rider and passenger

We could not clearly confirm whether a helmet is compulsory on an ordinary bicycle.

Helmets are not compulsory for cyclists.

• motorcycles (including with a sidecar) and mopeds,
• tricycles and quadricycles.

Cyclists aged 16 and over don’t have to wear a helmet.

• motorcycles (including with a sidecar) and mopeds,
• tricycles and quadricycles,
• bicycle – children and teenagers under 16.

• bicycle
• tricycles and quadricycles (light and heavy)

• motorcycle (including with a sidecar) – rider and passenger
• moped – rider and passenger

Bicycle – adults (18 and over) don’t have to wear a helmet.

• motorcycle (including with a sidecar)
• moped
• tricycles and quadricycles (light and heavy)
• bicycle – cyclists under 18

• bicycle
• tricycles and quadricycles (light and heavy)

• motorcycle (also with a sidecar)
• moped

Cyclists and riders of scooters, Segways or mini-mopeds aged 16 and over – helmet not compulsory.

• motorcycle (also with a sidecar) and moped
• tricycle and quadricycle (without factory-fitted seat belts and seats in a cabin)
• bicycle, scooter, Segway, mini-moped – up to the age of 16 (bicycle helmet, fastened)

Cyclists – helmet recommended but not compulsory.

• motorcycle (also with a sidecar)
• moped
• tricycle and quadricycle

• bicycle – for adults (children under 12 must wear a certified helmet)

• motorcycle (also with a sidecar) – helmet with 4 reflective elements, fastened
• moped
• tricycles and quadricycles
• bicycle – children under 12

Motorcyclists, moped riders and their passengers must also wear CE-certified gloves, and the motorcycle rider must carry a high-visibility vest.

Bicycle – a helmet is not compulsory.

Mopeds, three- and four-wheelers that go no faster than 20 km/h – no helmet requirement either.

• motorcycle (also with a sidecar)
• moped
• three- and four-wheelers (light and heavy)

Bicycle – a helmet is not compulsory.

• moped and motorcycle (also with a sidecar)
• e-scooter and other light electric vehicles (electric skateboard, roller skates, monowheel, Segway)
• tricycles and quadricycles – including quad bikes

A helmet is not mandatory on a bicycle – exception: outside built-up areas at speeds over 50 km/h. Riders of four-wheelers with a maximum speed of up to 20 km/h don’t need one either.

• motorcycles (including with a sidecar),
• mopeds,
• three-wheelers,
• four-wheelers with a maximum speed over 20 km/h.

• bicycle – helmet recommended but not mandatory
• tricycles and quadricycles (category B) – helmet strongly recommended, but not mandatory

• motorcycle (also with a sidecar) – rider and passenger
• moped – rider and passenger

A helmet is not compulsory on an ordinary bicycle.

• motorcycles (including with a sidecar) and mopeds – unless they have an enclosed cabin,
• three-wheelers and quadricycles without a cabin,
• e-scooters – everyone riding one must wear a helmet.

Note: after the reform of the Highway Code of 14 December 2024, an e-scooter must have insurance, a plate (identification sticker), indicators and brakes on both wheels. You may ride it only on urban roads with a speed limit of up to 50 km/h – not on cycle paths or in pedestrian zones. Your Europe (as of September 2024) does not reflect this – check before you travel at Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Odyseusz: Italy (in Polish).

Adult cyclists – helmet not mandatory (the requirement only applies to children).

• motorcycle and moped (Your Europe gives no details – as everywhere in the EU, you ride with a helmet)
• bicycle – children

Bicycle – a helmet is not mandatory as long as you don’t ride faster than 20 km/h (according to Your Europe).

• motorcycle (also with a sidecar)
• moped
• tricycles and quadricycles (light and heavy)

The helmet must be ECE 22 approved.

Cyclists aged 18 and over – helmet recommended but not mandatory.

• motorcycle (also with a sidecar) and moped
• tricycle and quadricycle (without a factory-fitted cab and seat belts)
• e-scooter and other micromobility devices – everyone, regardless of age
• bicycle – under 18 (rider and passenger)

• bicycle
• e-scooter (helmet strongly recommended)

• motorcycle (also with a sidecar) – unless it has a cab, in which case seat belts are mandatory
• moped – as above
• tricycles and quadricycles

• bicycle – helmet recommended (compulsory only for children up to 10 in a bike child seat)

• motorcycle (also with a sidecar) – rider and passenger
• moped
• three- and four-wheelers (L2e, L5e, L6e, L7e)
• children up to 10 carried in a bike child seat

No data in official sources.

• motorcycle and moped

We have not confirmed the details (bicycle, e-scooter, age) in official sources.

• bicycle (also a regular e-bike)

• motorcycle (also with a sidecar)
• moped, also a “snorfiets” (scooter with a blue number plate)
• fast e-bike (speed pedelec)
• tricycles and quadricycles

No data in official sources.

We have not confirmed the details in official sources. Always wear a helmet on a motorcycle or moped.

• bicycle

A bicycle helmet isn’t compulsory, but it’s worth wearing one.

• motorcycle (also with a sidecar)
• moped
• three- and four-wheelers (quads)

Cyclists and e-scooter riders aged 16 and over – a helmet is recommended but not compulsory.

• motorcycle (also with a sidecar)
• moped
• quadricycles and tricycles (without factory-fitted seat belts and a rigid roof)
• bicycle and e-scooter – helmet compulsory up to age 16 (since 3 June 2026)

• bicycle

• motorcycle (also with a sidecar)
• moped
• three- and four-wheelers

A helmet is not compulsory on a bicycle or in three- and four-wheelers.

• motorcycles (also with a sidecar),
• mopeds.

No data in official sources.

We have not confirmed the details in official sources. Always wear a helmet on a motorcycle or moped.

Bicycle – adults don’t have to wear a helmet in built-up areas.

• motorcycle (rider and passenger)
• moped (rider and passenger)
• three- and four-wheelers (driver and passenger)
• bicycle – always up to the age of 15, and all cyclists outside built-up areas

Adult cyclists don’t have to wear a helmet.

• motorcycles (including with a sidecar) and mopeds,
• three- and four-wheelers – unless they have seat belts or an enclosed cab,
• bicycles and light electric vehicles (e.g. e-scooters) – until the age of 18.

• bicycle – from 16 in built-up areas a helmet is only recommended

• motorcycle, moped, tricycles and quadricycles – in and outside built-up areas
• bicycle – always up to 16, from 16 outside built-up areas

Cyclists aged 15 and over – helmet not mandatory.

• motorcycle (including with a sidecar) and moped
• three-wheeler and four-wheeler
• bicycle – children under 15

Bicycle – a helmet is not mandatory (Your Europe: when riding at up to 20 km/h).

• motorcycle (including with a sidecar)
• moped
• three- and four-wheelers (light and heavy)

The helmet must be ECE 22 approved.

• bicycle – helmet recommended, not mandatory

• motorcycle, scooter, moped – rider and passenger, helmet fastened
• three- and four-wheelers – helmet recommended