NHTSA Seeks Comments on Renewing Motorcycle Helmet Labeling Rules
Published Date: 2/17/2026
Notice
Summary
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration wants to bring back a rule about motorcycle helmet labels and is asking for your thoughts by March 19, 2026. This affects helmet makers who must keep clear, helpful labels on their products. The goal? To keep riders safer without adding extra paperwork or costs.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Labeling Imposes Costs on Helmet Makers
Helmet manufacturers are the affected public: NHTSA estimates 45 manufacturers produce 3,600,000 helmets annually and must label each helmet. NHTSA estimates a printing/material cost of $0.42 per helmet (total annual cost $1,512,000) and about 10 seconds of labor per helmet, totaling 10,900 annual burden hours across manufacturers.
Helmet Labels Help Riders and Enforcement
NHTSA is seeking reinstatement of the information collection that requires every motorcycle helmet to carry a permanent, legible certification label on the outer shell under FMVSS No. 218. State and local law enforcement use that sticker to enforce helmet-use laws, and consumers use the label to know whether a helmet meets the safety standard. Comments on the reinstatement are due March 19, 2026.
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