DOT (US Helmet Standard)

DOT is the United States Department of Transportation, the federal agency that regulates road transport, including vehicle and equipment standards. For riders, the name appears mostly on helmets: a DOT label means the manufacturer certifies that the helmet meets US standard FMVSS 218.

A DOT label alone does not make a helmet legal for road use in Europe. In the EU and UK, helmets must carry an ECE 22.05 or the newer ECE 22.06 approval label. Some helmets are certified to both.

DOT also covers tyre markings: the DOT code on a tyre sidewall ends with four digits showing the week and year of manufacture, which is useful for checking tyre age.