Everyone knows about the helmet requirement on a motorcycle, but the rules no longer end there. With the regulation amendment at the end of 2025, gloves also became compulsory; if your helmet has no visor you need protective goggles, and on night journeys a reflective vest or similar garment. In this guide, based on the official texts, we explain which gear is really compulsory, how the rule applies to the rider and the passenger, the 2026 penalty amounts and the gear that will really protect you even though it is not compulsory.
Short list: what is compulsory in 2026
| Gear | Rider | Passenger | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Helmet (worn and fastened) | Compulsory | Compulsory | Highway Traffic Act Art. 78, Regulation Art. 150 |
| Protective goggles | Compulsory if the helmet has no visor | Not required for the passenger in the text | Act Art. 78, Regulation Art. 150 |
| Protective gloves | Compulsory | Compulsory | Regulation Art. 150 (Official Gazette, 4 November 2025) |
| Reflective vest etc. | Compulsory at night | Compulsory at night | Regulation Schedule No. 1 (Official Gazette, 16 August 2022) |
Those excluded from the helmet and goggles rule are also written in the text: three-wheeled cargo motorcycles and vehicles whose rider and passengers are protected by a frame or bodywork.
Helmet: wearing it is not enough, you have to fasten it
Article 78, renewed by Law No. 7574, requires the protective helmet and protective goggles to be used "properly", and states explicitly that anyone who does not use them properly will be regarded as not having used them at all. That is, a helmet with the chin strap open, simply sitting on the head or carried on the arm is treated at a check the same as riding without a helmet. The regulation also requires the passenger both to wear and to fasten the helmet.
- First violation: 2,500 TL.
- Second time within one year of the last violation: 5,000 TL.
- Third and every subsequent violation: 10,000 TL.
- Child passenger who has not reached the age of 15: It is the rider's responsibility to ensure they use the protective system; a rider who does not is fined 5,000 TL.
The law also says the vehicle will not be allowed to continue on the road without the required protective systems fitted. The text of the law does not specify which approval standard the helmet must carry; even so, buying a helmet with an ECE 22.06 label is the best choice. We explained the differences in the ECE 22.06 guide and choosing and sizing in the helmet selection guide. You can look at full-face helmet options here.
Protective goggles: if you use a helmet without a visor
If you use an open-face (jet) or motocross helmet without a visor, goggles are compulsory. If your helmet has a visor, goggles are not additionally required. Because goggles are counted in the same clause as the helmet in the law, the penalty table is the same: it starts at 2,500 TL.
A frequently asked question is whether sunglasses are enough. The text says "protective goggles" and does not describe a model. The way to avoid argument is to use impact-resistant motorcycle or motocross goggles that fit your face. Options: motorcycle goggles, jet helmets, motocross helmets.
Gloves: compulsory since 4 November 2025
The amendment published in the Official Gazette of 4 November 2025 added a new clause to Article 150 of the regulation: motorcycle riders and, if one is carried, their passengers must wear protective gloves. The amendment came into force on the day it was published. That is, your pillion cannot ride without gloves either.
The text says "protective gloves"; it does not say which standard will be required. For real protection, choose a motorcycle glove with a reinforced palm, that covers the wrist and carries an EN 13594 label. To find the right size, see the glove size guide; models are on the summer and winter pages.
A point on the penalty: gloves are not separately listed in Article 78 of the Act. The article provides a 1,000 TL penalty for those who do not use the other protective systems set out in the regulation. A separate amount specific to gloves does not appear in the official texts.
At night: reflective vest or similar garment
With the regulation amendment of 16 August 2022, riders and passengers of motorcycles, mopeds, bicycles, electric bicycles and electric scooters must wear a reflective vest or similar garment on night journeys so as to ensure their visibility. The option in the old text that "attaching a reflective mark to the clothing is enough" was removed.
The text says "vest etc.". Whether the small reflective strips on your jacket meet this requirement is open to interpretation; the surest way is a light reflective vest worn over the jacket. We gathered other ways of being visible in the dark in the night riding guide.
A 30-second check before setting off
- Is your helmet's chin strap fastened and tight? Is your passenger's helmet fastened too?
- If your helmet has no visor, are your goggles on?
- Have you and your passenger put on gloves?
- If it will get dark, are the reflective vests in the bag?
- Does the passenger not exceed the number of people on the registration document, and are they on their own seat with their feet on the pegs?
We explained the details of riding with a passenger in the carrying a passenger guide.
Gear that is not compulsory but really protects
There is no legal requirement for a jacket, trousers, boots and back protector. Yet those are exactly the places that contact the asphalt in a fall. The gear the law lists as the minimum protects you from a fine; to be protected in a fall, budget for these as well:
- Jacket and trousers: Products with an EN 17092 class (AAA, AA, A, B, C) label. We explained what the classes mean in the protection levels guide. See four-season jackets and trousers.
- Boots: Motorcycle boots that wrap the ankle, with an EN 13634 label. See boots.
- Protectors: EN 1621 protectors for shoulders, elbows, knees and back. See protective gear.
- Airbag vest: An extra layer protecting the chest and neck. Details are in the airbag guide.
What to look for when buying gear
If you buy the compulsory gear only to avoid a fine, you will most likely choose the wrong product. With a helmet, size comes first: a helmet that does not fit your head properly will shift in a fall, whatever its label. We explained the measuring method in the helmet size guide. With gloves, finger length and wrist closure matter; with goggles, fitting your face and not fogging up. When choosing a vest, too, prefer a model that can be worn comfortably over your jacket, does not flap in the wind and has hook-and-loop or zip fastening. For all of them, read the label and instructions for use, and buy from known sellers against the risk of counterfeit products.
What you must carry with you
Alongside the gear, documents are checked. Your driving licence must match your motorcycle's class; the penalty for riding without a licence is 40,000 TL. The penalty for not keeping the vehicle registration certificate (ruhsat) in the vehicle is 92 TL, and the vehicle is barred from traffic until its details are verified. Compulsory traffic insurance is a legal requirement; remember that an uninsured vehicle is also not accepted for inspection. A summary of all the rules is on the rules and penalties page, and the current list of fines in the traffic fines guide.
Conclusion
The legal minimum set in 2026 is this: a fastened helmet, protective goggles if your helmet has no visor, protective gloves for you and your passenger, and a reflective vest at night. The penalty for the helmet and goggles rule starts at 2,500 TL and multiplies on repeat. But more important than the penalty is the jacket, trousers and boots that will protect the rest of your body in a fall. Do not settle for the minimum.
Frequently asked questions
Who is fined for the pillion's helmet?
The law applies the penalty to "drivers/passengers" who violate the rule; if an adult passenger has no helmet, the penalty can be written for them too. If the passenger is under 15, it is the rider's duty to ensure they use the protective system, and the rider is fined 5,000 TL.
Are gloves compulsory on a 50 cc scooter?
The gloves clause uses the words "motorcycle riders". Under the definition in the law, those up to 50 cc and a design speed of 45 km/h count as mopeds. We could not verify from an official statement how this distinction is interpreted at checks; to protect your hands, it is best not to ride without gloves.
Is a reflective vest needed in the daytime too?
No. The regulation sets the reflective vest requirement for night journeys. If you want to be visible in the daytime too, choosing a light-coloured helmet and clothing makes it easier.
Is there a penalty for not wearing a jacket or knee guards?
No, there is no legal requirement for a jacket, trousers, boots and knee guards. What is compulsory is the helmet, goggles for a helmet without a visor, gloves and a reflective garment at night.