Is It Safe to Buy a Used Helmet? What the CPSC Says

Usually, no — not for a bike, ski or motorcycle helmet that someone else has worn. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) explains in its 2022 helmet guide that a bicycle helmet is built to absorb one fall: the foam crushes to soak up the hit and will not protect you again. And the CPSC says you must replace it after that kind of impact even when there is no visible damage. So a used helmet's real problem isn't how it looks. It's that nothing on it can prove it hasn't already done its one job.

A helmet can look perfect and already be spent. With a used one, the history is the product.

There is one honest exception, and a few helmet types that follow different rules. Here is how to tell them apart before the first ride or the first trip to the slopes this winter.

Why can't you tell if a used helmet is safe by looking at it?

Most bike, ski and motorcycle helmets protect you with a stiff foam liner under the shell. In a crash, that foam crushes. That is how it absorbs the energy that would otherwise reach your head. The CDC's bike helmet fact sheet puts it plainly: you may not be able to see the damage to the foam, but once it has crushed, it can't protect against another impact.

That is why the CPSC's rule for single-impact helmets is to replace them after a real fall or collision, even if the helmet looks fine. A seller can wipe a helmet clean and honestly believe it's good. Neither of you can see inside the foam.

Parachute, a Canadian injury-prevention charity, makes the same point for ski and snowboard helmets. It says second-hand helmets aren't recommended because their history and age can't be confirmed, and because they may have missing or broken parts.

Which helmets are built for one crash, and which for many?

This is the distinction most "should I buy used?" answers skip. The CPSC guide separates helmets into two kinds:

Two things follow from that table. First, a used bike or ski helmet carries the most risk, because one unseen fall can use it up, and a motorcycle helmet's crash history is just as invisible. Second, team-sport helmets like hockey and football are made to take repeated knocks. A used one is less of a gamble on hidden crash history, though age, fit and visible damage still matter, and leagues may have their own certification rules. Check yours before you buy.

How old is too old for a helmet?

The CPSC says to follow the manufacturer's guidance first. Where there is none, it suggests replacing a helmet within 5 to 10 years of purchase, depending on how much it was used, how it was cared for and where it was kept. Parachute is stricter for winter helmets: it says to replace one that is more than five years old, because the plastics lose protective ability over time even when they look intact.

That makes the date of manufacture label one of the most useful things to find on any helmet. The CDC suggests choosing a bike helmet whose label shows that date, partly so you can check it against recalls. For a wider look at the dates printed on secondhand goods, see our guide to five dates to check on anything secondhand.

The 8-point check before you buy any helmet secondhand

If you are still looking at a used or open-box helmet, go through this list. One "no" is enough to walk away.

1. Right helmet for the activity. A bike helmet isn't a ski helmet, and a ski helmet isn't a motorcycle helmet. The CPSC warns that helmets designed for other activities may not protect you as well.
2. A real standard on the label. Bike helmets made after 1999 must meet the CPSC standard (16 CFR 1203). Look for a label saying so. Snow-sports helmets should list ASTM F2040 or Snell S-98/RS-98, and motorcycle helmets DOT FMVSS 218. The CPSC says the marking is usually on the inside liner, the outside of the shell or the chin strap. Don't go by the name, the look or the box.
3. A manufacture date you can read, and an age that is inside the maker's limit (or the 5-to-10-year range above).
4. A crash history you can believe. If the seller can't say it has never been dropped hard or worn in a fall, assume it has.
5. No cracks, dents or crushed foam. The CPSC lists cracks in the shell or liner, a loose shell, marks on the liner, fading and crushed foam as reasons to replace a helmet.
6. Every part present. Straps not frayed, buckle working, all pads in place. The CDC says not to use a helmet missing any padding or parts.
7. Nothing added. The CPSC says stickers, coverings or attachments that didn't come with the helmet can hurt how it performs. Avoid novelty or "toy" helmets made only to look real.
8. Not recalled. Search the brand and model on the CPSC site. Our step-by-step guide to checking recalls before you buy used shows how.

Is an open-box or never-worn helmet different?

Yes — and this is the honest exception. A helmet that was returned unworn, still has its tags and packaging, and carries a recent manufacture date doesn't have the hidden-crash problem. Nobody has fallen in it. What matters then is the same as for a new helmet: the right standard for your sport, a recent date, no recall and a good fit.

A helmet that "looks barely used" is not the same thing. If it has clearly been worn, you are back to trusting a stranger's memory of every fall.

Whatever you buy, fit decides how well it works. The CPSC says a helmet should sit level and not move in any direction once it's on. The CDC's bike guidance adds that the front edge should sit one or two finger-widths above the eyebrows, and the chin strap snug enough that only one or two fingers fit under it. Bring the person who will wear it when you shop, as both the CDC and CPSC suggest.

What does Maryland law say about kids' bike helmets?

A Maryland bicycle-law card, published by the Town of Bel Air and pointing readers to the MVA, says helmets are required for everyone under 16 riding a bicycle on roads, bike paths or other public property, including passengers. The same rule applies to riders under 16 on scooters or in-line skates. The card says the helmet must meet ANSI, Snell or ASTM standards. The card is undated, so check the MVA's bicycle safety page for the latest. If you live in DC or Virginia, check your own city or county rules too.

The point for secondhand buyers: an old, damaged or uncertified helmet may not give a child the protection the law has in mind.

Bottom line

For bike, ski and motorcycle helmets, a used one is only as good as its unknown history. Don't buy one from a stranger. A never-worn, open-box helmet with a recent date, the right standard and no recall is a different case and can be a sensible buy. Spend your savings elsewhere: there are plenty of things that are smart to buy secondhand, and our FAQ explains how buying from DealsDMV works.

Know someone gearing up for ski season or a new bike? Send them this before they buy.