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.

A DOT approved helmet is a helmet that meets the safety standards set by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). Wearing a DOT approved helmet can protect your head from injury or death in case of an accident, and provide you with many other benefits, such as improved visibility, comfort, and enjoyment of riding.

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.

The DOT in DOT-approved helmets stands for the United States Department of Transportation. The DOT has a specific set of safety standards that helmets must meet to be considered safe for use on the road.