While DOT-approved helmets are considered the gold standard for safety, they are not the only safe option. There are other safety standards, such as Snell and ECE, that some riders prefer. However, DOT-approved helmets are widely recognized as a reliable measure of helmet safety.

A helmet is DOT approved when it passes the FMVSS 218 safety standard testing set by the United States Department of Transportation. These safety standards involve a series of tests that evaluate the helmet’s impact absorption, retention system, shell integrity, and resistance to penetration.

DOT certified helmets are marked on the back with a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) stamp. This ensures the helmet has been made to the highest standards and will provide adequate protection. Avoid buying a used helmet, even a DOT certified one. You can never be sure what it’s been through—not all impacts leave a mark.

A DOT approved motorcycle helmet means that the helmet legally meets the National Highways Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) set of standards created to ensure helmets provide an acceptable level of protection to the head of the wearer. DOT being the Department Of Transportation. FMVSS being the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.