What Do You Legally Have to Wear on a Motorbike in the UK?

In the UK, the one main piece of motorcycle clothing you are legally required to wear on the road is an approved motorcycle helmet.

That surprises quite a few people.

Motorcycle jacket? Not generally compulsory.

Gloves? No.

Motorcycle trousers? No.

Boots? No.

So, purely from a clothing point of view, somebody could legally ride down the road wearing an approved helmet with ordinary clothes underneath it.

That does not mean it is a particularly good idea.

There is a big difference between what the law requires and what gives you a sensible level of protection on a motorcycle.

What Motorcycle Clothing Is Required by Law in the UK?

For normal motorcycle, scooter and moped riding on public roads, the legal requirement centres mainly around your helmet.

Current UK Government guidance says that you must wear a motorcycle helmet that meets an approved safety standard.

The accepted standards currently include:

• UNECE Regulation 22.06
• UNECE Regulation 22.05
• BS 6658:1985 carrying the appropriate BSI Kitemark
• Certain equivalent EEA standards

The Highway Code also says the helmet must be securely fastened.

If you want to check your helmet in more detail, read our guide: How Do I Know If My Helmet Is Road Legal in the UK?

You can also browse our motorcycle helmets, including current ECE 22.06-approved models.

Do You Legally Have to Wear a Motorcycle Jacket?

No. There is no general UK law requiring a motorcycle rider to wear a motorcycle jacket on the road.

That applies whether the jacket is leather, textile, waterproof, mesh, AA-rated, AAA-rated or anything else.

But there is a reason practically every experienced rider will tell you to wear one.

Human skin is not particularly enthusiastic about sliding along tarmac.

A proper motorcycle jacket is designed to provide considerably more abrasion resistance than ordinary casual clothing and can also hold impact armour over vulnerable areas such as your elbows, shoulders and back.

Modern motorcycle clothing can also carry an EN 17092 classification such as A, AA or AAA, depending on the garment and the level of testing it has passed.

Those ratings are useful when choosing clothing, but they do not make the garment legally compulsory to wear.

You can browse our motorcycle jackets if you want to compare leather, textile, laminated, waterproof and summer options.

Do You Have to Wear Motorcycle Trousers by Law?

No.

There is no general law saying that a motorcyclist must wear leather trousers, textile motorcycle trousers or protective riding jeans.

You will therefore see people riding in ordinary denim jeans, work trousers and occasionally shorts when the British weather has briefly convinced everybody that we live in Spain.

Again, legal does not necessarily mean sensible.

Ordinary fashion jeans are primarily designed to survive the washing machine, not a slide down an A-road.

Protective motorcycle jeans and trousers can incorporate abrasion-resistant materials, reinforced construction and impact armour while still looking relatively normal.

Our motorcycle clothing range includes textile trousers, leather trousers, riding jeans and other protective clothing for road riders.

Are Motorcycle Gloves Compulsory in the UK?

No. Motorcycle gloves are not generally a legal requirement for ordinary road riding in the UK.

They are still one of the pieces of kit I would be very reluctant to ride without.

Your hands have a habit of being among the first things you put out when something goes badly wrong.

Motorcycle gloves are designed to offer far more protection than ordinary fashion or work gloves, with features that can include reinforced palms, knuckle protection, impact protection and abrasion-resistant construction.

You can browse our motorcycle gloves for summer, waterproof, winter, sports and touring options.

Do You Legally Have to Wear Motorcycle Boots?

No, not for normal road riding.

You do not generally have to wear motorcycle-specific boots in order to ride legally on the road.

Again, there is a fairly obvious difference between riding in something that meets the bare minimum of the law and wearing something actually designed to protect your ankle and foot.

A decent motorcycle boot may include:

• Ankle protection.
• Reinforced toe and heel areas.
• Stiffer construction to help resist crushing and twisting.
• Abrasion-resistant materials.
• A secure fastening that is less likely to come off during an accident.

Trainers may be comfortable when you get off the bike. Unfortunately, accidents have a habit of occurring before you get off it.

Do You Have to Wear a Visor or Goggles?

This one is slightly different.

You are not generally required to ride with a visor or goggles.

However, if you do use a motorcycle visor or goggles on the road, they must comply with the relevant safety regulations.

Government guidance currently recognises suitable British, UNECE and equivalent European standards for motorcycle eye protection.

There are also restrictions around heavily tinted visors. Government guidance states that visors transmitting less than 50% of visible light do not fully comply with the relevant standards for road use.

Quite apart from the law, riding at speed with insects, stones, rain and road muck heading towards your eyes makes proper eye protection a fairly attractive idea.

Does a Pillion Passenger Have to Wear a Helmet?

Yes.

The helmet requirement applies to both the rider and the pillion passenger on a motorcycle, scooter or moped.

The Highway Code says both must wear an appropriate protective helmet and it must be securely fastened.

There are limited legal exceptions, including for a Sikh wearing a turban. Government guidance also identifies specific circumstances such as a passenger travelling in a sidecar.

What About Sikh Riders Wearing a Turban?

There is a specific legal exemption from the motorcycle helmet requirement for followers of the Sikh religion who are wearing a turban.

This exception is expressly recognised in UK Government guidance and the Highway Code.

Is Hi-Vis Clothing Compulsory on a Motorcycle?

No.

There is no general requirement for UK motorcyclists to wear a fluorescent or reflective jacket or vest.

The Highway Code does, however, encourage riders to make themselves as visible as possible, particularly in poor visibility and at night.

That might mean choosing lighter-coloured equipment or using reflective panels or accessories.

It is advice rather than a general legal requirement.

What About Motorcycle Clothing for a CBT?

This is where people often get confused.

Although jacket, gloves, trousers and motorcycle boots are not generally compulsory for somebody already riding legally on the road, you do need suitable clothing for your CBT.

Current DVSA guidance says CBT riders must wear:

• An approved motorcycle helmet.
• Motorcycle boots or other sturdy footwear that supports and protects the ankles.
• Textile or leather motorcycle trousers, or heavy denim trousers.
• A textile or leather motorcycle jacket, or a heavy denim jacket with suitable layers underneath.
• Motorcycle gloves.

If you arrive without suitable clothing, the training school can stop the course and you may have to pay to take it again.

So somebody saying, “But gloves aren't legally compulsory” while standing at the training school in a pair of shorts probably isn't going to get very far.

What Do You Have to Wear for Your Motorcycle Test?

Very similar rules apply when you take the practical motorcycle test.

DVSA says you must wear suitable motorcycle clothing, including:

• An approved motorcycle helmet.
• Motorcycle boots or sturdy ankle-supporting footwear.
• Leather or textile motorcycle trousers, or heavy denim trousers.
• A leather or textile motorcycle jacket, or suitable heavy denim clothing.
• Motorcycle gloves.

If you turn up inadequately dressed, your test can be cancelled.

That is an important distinction: those are requirements for taking the test, rather than a general law saying every qualified motorcyclist must wear that equipment on every journey.

Does Motorcycle Clothing Have to Be CE Approved?

Motorcycle protective clothing sold as protective equipment is subject to product safety and PPE requirements, and you will commonly see modern motorcycle garments carrying recognised CE or UKCA-related markings and EN standards.

But that does not mean the rider commits an offence simply by wearing an old motorcycle jacket that does not carry a modern EN 17092 label.

Again, the rules surrounding what manufacturers and retailers may sell as protective equipment are different from the general road traffic rules governing what a rider must wear.

So Could You Legally Ride in Jeans and a T-Shirt?

From the specific motorcycle protective-clothing rules, you are not generally required to wear a motorcycle jacket, protective trousers, boots or gloves for normal road riding.

So yes, subject to all the other usual road laws, somebody wearing an approved and correctly fastened helmet with ordinary clothing is not automatically breaking motorcycle clothing law simply because their jacket and trousers are not protective motorcycle gear.

Would I recommend it?

Absolutely not.

The law establishes a minimum requirement. It does not promise that the minimum is a particularly clever way to dress when you're sitting on top of an engine surrounded by traffic with nothing between you and the road.

What Should a Motorcyclist Actually Wear?

For ordinary road riding, I would look for:

• A correctly fitting, approved motorcycle helmet.
• A proper motorcycle jacket with correctly positioned armour.
• Protective motorcycle trousers or riding jeans.
• Motorcycle gloves.
• Motorcycle boots that protect the ankle.
• Weather protection appropriate for the conditions.

Exactly what you choose will depend on your bike and how you use it.

Someone commuting through a Lancashire winter has very different needs from somebody doing a Sunday afternoon ride in July.

The important thing is that your kit fits properly, stays where it is supposed to stay and is comfortable enough that you will actually wear it.

Proper Fit Matters Too

Buying highly rated motorcycle clothing is only half of the job.

Armour needs to sit over the body part it is supposed to protect. A helmet needs to fit your head properly rather than simply having the right letter printed on the size label. Boots and gloves need to stay securely in place.

This is one area where trying motorcycle clothing in person can make a big difference.

At RaceLeathers in Darwen, we can help you compare different helmets and clothing, check the fit and find equipment suited to the riding you actually do.

You can browse our motorcycle clothing online or visit us in store for fitting advice.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the minimum legal clothing for riding a motorcycle in the UK?

For ordinary road riding, the main specific motorcycle clothing requirement is an approved, securely fastened motorcycle helmet. Other specialist protective clothing is strongly recommended but is not generally compulsory.

Is it illegal to ride a motorcycle without gloves?

No. Motorcycle gloves are not generally compulsory for ordinary road riding, although suitable gloves are required when undertaking CBT or a motorcycle test and are strongly recommended for normal riding.

Is it illegal to ride a motorcycle in shorts?

There is no general motorcycle clothing law requiring protective trousers for ordinary road riding. That does not make shorts sensible motorcycle clothing, and separate laws and circumstances can still apply.

Do you have to wear motorcycle boots?

Not generally when riding on the road after you are properly licensed. However, suitable ankle-protecting footwear is required for CBT and practical motorcycle tests.

Does a pillion passenger have to wear a helmet?

Yes. The normal helmet requirement applies to pillion passengers as well as riders, subject to specific legal exemptions.

Do you legally have to wear a motorcycle jacket?

No. There is no general UK law requiring a motorcycle jacket for normal road riding. Specialist protective clothing is nevertheless strongly recommended by the Government and the Highway Code.

Is a hi-vis vest compulsory on a motorcycle?

No. Hi-vis clothing is not generally compulsory for motorcyclists in the UK, although the Highway Code advises riders to consider ways of making themselves more visible.