Motorcycle Laws in Oklahoma

Oklahoma is a motorcycle destination state with iconic routes like historic Route 66 and the Talimena National Scenic Byway. It’s also a state with many residents who use motorcycles for gas-friendly daily transportation. Unfortunately, the same open-air design that makes a motorcycle ride so exhilarating also leaves the rider vulnerable to severe injuries in an accident.

Knowing and carefully following Oklahoma’s motorcycle laws minimizes the risk of serious accidents and injuries. Still, even the most experienced motorcyclist can suffer injuries in a motorcycle accident due to a driver’s careless or reckless actions. An Oklahoma City motorcycle accident attorney from Dan Davis Law can tell you more about your rights and options for financial recovery after an accident.

How Does Oklahoma Define a Motorcycle?

Before becoming familiar with motorcycle laws in Oklahoma, it’s important to understand how the state defines a motorcycle. Under Oklahoma’s Title 47. Motor Vehicles, the state describes motorcycles as follows:

“A motorcycle is any motor vehicle having:

• A seat or saddle for the use of each rider;

• Not more than three wheels in contact with the ground, but excluding a tractor; and

• An electric or combustion engine motor:

• If the power source is a combustion engine, an engine with a piston or rotor displacement of one hundred fifty cubic centimeters (150 cc) or greater, or

• If the power source is an electric motor, with a power source capable of producing one thousand (1,000) watts or greater.”

Does Oklahoma Have a Universal Helmet Law?

Oklahoma is not one of the 19 states and the District of Columbia with universal helmet laws. Instead, Oklahoma motorcyclists over the age of 18 may choose whether or not to wear a helmet.

In Oklahoma, all motorcycle operators and passengers under the age of 18 must wear a DOT-approved helmet. DOT-approved helmets have at least a 1-inch-thick interior padding and are identifiable by a sturdy, permanent sticker on the back. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), a DOT-approved helmet decreases the chance of a motorcycle operator’s death in an accident by 37% and a passenger’s death by 41%.

Penalties for underage motorcyclists in Oklahoma who fail to wear a DOT-approved helmet include traffic citations, fines, and possible points against their license. Although those over 18 are not required to wear a motorcycle helmet in Oklahoma, they must have a windscreen on their motorcycle and wear protective eyewear.

Failing to wear a helmet may impact a motorcycle accident victim’s ability to recover compensation for their injury damages from an at-fault driver or affect their family’s ability to recover compensation through a wrongful death claim. A motorcycle accident lawyer can help you understand how helmet use or non-use may affect your claim under Oklahoma law.

Motorcycle Licensing Laws in Oklahoma

Although Oklahoma doesn’t have a universal helmet law, the state does have laws to promote safe riding, including the following requirements under Title 47 O.S. § 1-135:

• Motorcyclists in Oklahoma must have an “M” endorsement on their Oklahoma driver’s license, which they may obtain by passing a written exam, vision test, and a riding test. Riders must be at least 16 years old to apply for a learner’s permit before obtaining a license with a motorcycle endorsement. Those under 16 may still apply for a permit, which will be upgraded to a license upon turning 16.
• Individuals over the age of 18 may bypass the test by passing a basic riding course by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF).

Oklahoma’s Motorcycle Equipment Laws

Oklahoma’s equipment requirements for motorcycles help increase safety and reduce the risk of accidents. The law requires motorcycles used in traffic to have the following:

• Two rearview mirrors, each with at least a three-inch reflective surface
• Each wheel must have a fender
• A working horn
• A muffler
• A functional speedometer
• A headlight with an off-white light with at least 500 feet of visibility
• A red taillight
• At least one reflector with visibility between 100 and 600 feet

Finally, all motorcycles must have a functioning muffler, although unlike some states, Oklahoma sets no limits on motorcycle noise levels. A motorcycle accident attorney in Oklahoma City can investigate whether equipment violations contributed to your accident.

Motorcycle Passenger Laws in Oklahoma

To increase passenger safety, Oklahoma has strict laws for carrying passengers on motorcycles, including the following:

• Even with a motorcycle permit, operators under the age of 16 may not legally carry passengers
• Those over the age of 16 who wish to carry a passenger must have wheels with diameters of at least 12 inches
• To carry a passenger, a motorcycle must have a double seat and double footrests, or a sidecar with a separate seating area

Unlike a handful of states, Oklahoma does not restrict passenger age as long as the motorcycle meets the other requirements.

Motorcycle Traffic Laws in Oklahoma

Oklahoma considers motorcycles vehicles, giving motorcyclists the same rights and responsibilities as all drivers on Oklahoma roads. There are only two laws that are specific to motorcycles. Motorcyclists may not legally practice lane splitting, or riding in the space between lanes, a practice legalized in California.

Motorcyclists may proceed through a red light after first coming to a complete stop and ensuring that the way is clear. This exception exists because a motorcycle may not be large enough to trigger a traffic light that works through sensors. Allowing motorcycles to cross intersections on red lights also reduces the risk of deadly rear-end collisions at stoplights.

Understanding these traffic laws is crucial when determining fault in a motorcycle accident, as violations can impact liability and compensation. An OKC motorcycle accident lawyer can investigate whether traffic law violations contributed to your accident and help establish the at-fault party’s liability.

Motorcycle Insurance Requirements in Oklahoma

Motorcyclists must carry at least the minimum required insurance in Oklahoma. Under the state’s modified comparative negligence laws, the party responsible for an accident is liable for property damage costs and personal injury damages. The minimum required insurance for motorcycles in Oklahoma is as follows:

• $25,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per person for injury or fatality
• $50,000 total bodily injury coverage per accident for multiple injury victims
• $25,000 in property damage coverage per accident

Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage is not required in Oklahoma, but insurers must offer it. Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage provides coverage for the policyholder in the event of an accident caused by a driver without insurance, or when the cost of accident damages far exceeds the at-fault party’s insurance limits. If you’ve been in an accident with an uninsured/underinsured motorist, contact our Oklahoma City uninsured/underinsured motorist lawyers.

How Can an Oklahoma City Motorcycle Accident Attorney Help?

An experienced motorcycle accident lawyer has an in-depth understanding of Oklahoma’s motorcycle laws, traffic laws, and the state’s fault-based insurance system. 

If you were injured in a motorcycle accident through no fault of your own, contact our OKC motorcycle accident attorneys from Dan Davis Law at (405) 930-4210 to learn more about your legal options for financial recovery.