Electric scooters have become a common way to make short trips, but New Jersey’s helmet rule is not the same for every rider. Under current statewide law, riders under 17 generally must wear a properly fitted and fastened helmet. Riders 17 and older are not subject to the same statewide requirement, although wearing a helmet remains strongly recommended.

New Jersey lawmakers have proposed expanding the requirement to riders of all ages, but that proposal has not become law. Whether someone was wearing a helmet may also come up after an accident, particularly when the claim involves a head injury. However, riding without a helmet does not automatically determine who caused the crash or prevent an injured person from pursuing a claim.

Key Takeaways: E-Scooter Helmet Laws in New Jersey

• New Jersey generally requires e-scooter riders under 17 to wear a properly fitted and fastened helmet.
• Riders 17 and older are not currently subject to a statewide e-scooter helmet requirement.
• A pending proposal would require riders of all ages to wear helmets, but it has not become law.
• Not wearing a helmet does not automatically establish who caused an e-scooter accident or prevent an injury claim.
• Check local operating rules and any rental-company requirements before riding an e-scooter.

What Is New Jersey’s Current E-Scooter Helmet Law?

New Jersey generally applies its bicycle laws to low-speed electric scooters. Under the state’s bicycle helmet law, a person under 17 may not operate or ride as a passenger on a bicycle without wearing a properly fitted and fastened helmet that meets the required safety standards.

A separate provision states that, with limited exceptions, New Jersey’s bicycle laws also apply to low-speed electric scooters. Together, these provisions generally require e-scooter riders under 17 to wear helmets.

The statewide requirement applies to riders younger than 17—not riders who are 17. The current rules can therefore be summarized as follows:

• Under 17: A properly fitted and fastened helmet is generally required.
• Age 17 and older: No statewide e-scooter helmet requirement currently applies.
• All riders: A helmet remains an important safety precaution even when state law does not require one.

According to the New Jersey Bicycle and Pedestrian Resource Center, which is supported by the New Jersey Department of Transportation, helmets are required for low-speed e-scooter riders under 17.

What Qualifies as a Low-Speed Electric Scooter?

New Jersey law defines a low-speed electric scooter as a scooter with a floorboard on which the operator stands, handlebars, and an electric motor capable of propelling the device—with or without human assistance—at a maximum speed of less than 19 mph.

The definition does not include a motor-wattage limit. New Jersey’s separate definition of a low-speed electric bicycle includes a limit of less than 750 watts, but that restriction should not be applied to low-speed electric scooters. Both definitions appear in N.J.S.A. 39:1-1.

A device capable of exceeding the statutory speed limit may fall outside the low-speed electric scooter category. Different rules may apply depending on how the device is designed, classified, and operated.

Do Adults Have to Wear Helmets on E-Scooters in New Jersey?

Riders age 17 and older do not currently have to wear helmets under New Jersey’s statewide low-speed e-scooter rule. That does not necessarily mean an adult may ride without a helmet in every situation.

Local governments may regulate where low-speed electric scooters can be operated, including their use on sidewalks, bicycle paths, and certain trails. Rental companies may also require helmet use or impose other safety rules through their user agreements. Riders should check local ordinances and the rental provider’s terms before riding.

Safety recommendations may also go beyond the minimum legal requirement. A U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission report estimated that e-scooters, e-bikes, and hoverboards were associated with 360,800 emergency-department visits from 2017 through 2022. The head and neck were among the body areas injured most frequently.

Could New Jersey Expand Its Helmet Requirement?

New Jersey lawmakers are considering legislation that would require e-scooter riders of all ages to wear helmets.

Senate Bill S4022 was introduced on March 19, 2026. The bill would remove the current age limitation from several helmet requirements and expressly extend the law to scooters and motorized scooters. An identical Assembly bill, A2104, has also been introduced.

These bills reflect proposals rather than current law. As of September 18, 2026, S4022 remains pending and has not changed the statewide rule. A proposed bill does not become enforceable unless it completes the legislative process and is enacted.

Because helmet legislation can change, riders should confirm the current law rather than relying on older articles or reports about pending proposals.

Can Not Wearing a Helmet Affect an E-Scooter Accident Claim?

Not wearing a helmet does not automatically prevent an injured e-scooter rider from pursuing a claim. Helmet use also does not ordinarily determine who caused the accident.

For example, if a driver runs a stop sign and strikes an e-scooter rider, the absence of a helmet does not explain why the driver entered the intersection. Responsibility for causing the collision remains a separate question.

Helmet use may become relevant when the rider claims a head or facial injury. A defendant or insurance company might argue that wearing a helmet could have prevented or reduced the injury. Any such argument would depend on the particular injury and supporting medical or expert evidence. A missing helmet would ordinarily have little connection to an injury such as a broken wrist, leg fracture, or ankle injury.

New Jersey also follows a modified comparative negligence system. If a rider’s conduct contributed to causing the crash—for example, by disregarding a traffic signal—compensation may be reduced by the rider’s assigned percentage of responsibility. Under the Comparative Negligence Act, an injured person generally cannot recover damages when that person’s negligence was greater than the combined negligence of the parties from whom compensation is sought.

Responsibility for causing the crash should therefore be evaluated separately from whether helmet use affected the extent of a particular injury.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a helmet required for a 16-year-old riding an e-scooter in New Jersey?

Yes. New Jersey generally requires low-speed e-scooter riders under 17 to wear a properly fitted and fastened helmet that meets the applicable safety standards.

Is a helmet required once a rider turns 17?

Not under the current statewide low-speed e-scooter rule. However, rental-provider requirements or other local operating rules may still apply.

Does New Jersey limit e-scooters to 750-watt motors?

No. The 750-watt limit applies to New Jersey’s definition of a low-speed electric bicycle, not its definition of a low-speed electric scooter. A qualifying low-speed electric scooter must instead meet the statutory design requirements and have a maximum speed of less than 19 mph.

Will not wearing a helmet automatically reduce compensation after an accident?

No. There is no automatic reduction based solely on helmet use. Whether the absence of a helmet is relevant depends on the injuries, the circumstances of the accident, and the supporting evidence.

Is an all-ages helmet requirement already in effect?

No. Legislation has been introduced that would require riders of all ages to wear helmets, but it has not become law as of September 18, 2026.

Brandon J. Broderick, Attorney at Law, Is Ready to Help

Helmet use is only one issue that may arise after an e-scooter accident. Who caused the collision and whether the lack of a helmet affected a particular injury are separate questions that depend on the facts.

If you were injured in a New Jersey e-scooter accident and are unsure how the helmet rules may affect your options, Brandon J. Broderick, Attorney at Law, is here to help. Call us for a free consultation. Our team can listen to what happened, explain your options in plain language, and help you determine what to do next. Contact us today.