Motorcycle Helmet Safety Ratings: DOT and ECE 22.06

Motorcycle helmets use safety certifications to show how they are tested before reaching riders.
The two most common are DOT and ECE — and they measure different levels of protection.

DOT Helmet Certification

DOT (Department of Transportation) is the legal minimum standard required for street-legal helmets in the United States.

What DOT tests

  • Direct impact absorption

  • Shell penetration resistance

  • Chin strap strength

Manufacturers certify compliance and regulators perform random post-sale checks.

What it means:
DOT makes a helmet legal to use on U.S. roads and verifies basic protection.

ECE Helmet Certification

ECE (Economic Commission for Europe) is an internationally recognized safety standard used in over 50 countries.

What ECE tests

  • Multiple impact zones

  • Different impact speeds

  • Helmet roll-off (staying on your head)

  • Visor strength

  • High- and low-energy impacts

What it means:
ECE evaluates more real-world crash scenarios than DOT.

ECE 22.05 vs ECE 22.06

The previous standard was ECE 22.05.
The current standard is ECE 22.06, which added significantly more testing.

New in ECE 22.06

  • More impact locations (including temple areas)

  • Low- and high-speed impacts

  • Angled/rotational impact testing

  • Stronger retention system testing

  • Tougher visor impact testing

Quick Comparison

Certification Purpose
DOT Legal U.S. requirement
ECE 22.05 Previous international standard
ECE 22.06 Current global protection standard

 

Alpinestars Helmet Standard

Alpinestars helmets originally met the ECE 22.05 standard and were redesigned ahead of the transition to 22.06 as part of our ongoing commitment to protecting our everyday riders and our professional athletes, where repeated high-energy impacts inform production helmet design.

Today, Alpinestars helmets meet both standards:

  • Pass DOT certification

  • Meet ECE 22.06 requirements