Riding a motorcycle in Missouri comes with added responsibilities and legal requirements designed to keep everyone on the road safer. These motorcycle-specific rules not only affect your daily ride, but can significantly impact anything from accident fault to St. Louis motorcycle injury claims after a crash.
Motorcycle Licensing Requirements in Missouri
To operate a motorcycle legally in Missouri, you have to meet certain licensing requirements.
- Riders can either apply for a standalone Class M license or add a motorcycle endorsement to an existing driver’s license.
- Passing both a written knowledge test and a riding skills exam. The written test covers traffic laws, road signs, and motorcycle-specific safety rules. The skills test evaluates your ability to control the motorcycle, including turning, braking, and maneuvering in real-world conditions.
- Riders can begin as young as 16 years old, but younger applicants may face additional requirements, such as parental consent, holding an instruction permit, and completing a safety course.
Riding without the right license could affect your rights after a crash or increase your own risk of a ticket.
Missouri Helmet Laws
In Missouri, helmet requirements depend on your age and other factors:
- If you’re under 26, you must wear a helmet every time you ride.
- If you are 26 or older, you’re allowed to ride without a helmet only if:
- You carry health insurance coverage.
- You’ve completed a state-approved motorcycle safety course.
302.026. Motorcycle operators twenty-six years of age or older, no protective headgear required, when — proof of insurance coverage required. — 1. Any qualified motorcycle operator who is twenty-six years of age or older may operate a motorcycle or motortricycle upon any highway of this state without wearing protective headgear if he or she in addition to maintaining proof of financial responsibility in accordance with chapter 303, is covered by a health insurance policy or other form of insurance which will provide the person with medical benefits for injuries incurred as a result of an accident while operating or riding on a motorcycle or motortricycle.
Understanding these laws is important because not wearing a helmet increases your risk of serious injury and could raise questions about your own responsibility and your insurance payout if you’re in a collision.
Missouri Motorcycle Insurance Requirements
Missouri law requires everyone riding to be insured for at least these amounts:
- $25,000 for bodily injury in any single event
- $50,000 for total bodily injury damages per accident if more than one person is injured
- $25,000 for property damage claims per accident
Just meeting the minimum takes care of legal necessities, but uninsured motorist coverage and extras can provide additional security.
Lane Splitting and Lane Sharing Rules
Many motorcycle riders lane split or want to share lanes with other drivers. In some states, this is allowed, and in others, it’s not. In Missouri:
- Lane splitting (riding between rows of cars on the white or dashed line) is illegal throughout Missouri.
- Two motorcycles are allowed to ride side-by-side in a single lane, so you and another rider can legally share the width of the lane.
Understanding and following these rules is essential for safety and they can also have an effect on your ability to recover compensation after a crash.
How Motorcycle Laws and Violations Affect Your Accident Compensation
Missouri’s pure comparative fault system means you can still receive compensation after an accident, even if you were partly, or mostly, to blame. Whatever share of the fault is assigned to you, your payment will be reduced by that percentage.
For example, if you’re found 30% at fault, your final award is reduced by 30%.
It’s important to follow all Missouri motorcycle laws, like wearing a helmet when required, carrying insurance, and staying in your own lane. If you break any of these rules, insurance companies may argue you made your injuries worse, or share some responsibility for the crash.
That can further reduce what you receive after your accident, sometimes by a lot. Always pay attention to the laws not only for your own safety, but to protect your right to full fair value if you need to make a personal injury claim.
If you have any questions about a possible accident claim or other motorcycle laws, don’t hesitate to contact our team at Meyerkord & Kurth today. We’ll help you get set up for a free consultation so we can discuss your situation.