May you wear headphones while driving, state by state?
Every state’s answer, and the District of Columbia’s, from its own manual or code: 24 have a rule on this, quoted below with where it is written; 27 say nothing on it.
Statutes fetched between 5 and 8 October 2026; manuals fetched between 6 September and 4 October 2026. How the answers are made
| State | The rule | Where it is written | As of |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | (b) A driver of a motor vehicle may not wear a headset, headphones, or other headgear designed for receiving sound and transmitting sound to the driver, or wear ear plugs or a similar device which reduces the driver's hearing ability while driving a vehicle. | Alaska law, 13 AAC 04.260(b) | 6 Oct 2026 |
| Arizona | 1. Physically holds or supports with any part of the person's body either of the following: (a) A portable wireless communication device, except that a person may use a portable wireless communication device with an earpiece, headphone device or device worn on a wrist to conduct a voice-based communication. (b) A stand-alone electronic device. | Arizona law, A.R.S. § 28-914(A)(1) | 6 Oct 2026 |
| California | It is illegal to wear a headset or earplugs in both ears while driving. | California Driver’s Handbook, p.9 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Colorado | You may not operate a motor vehicle while wearing earphones, meaning any device or headset covering all or a portion of both ears. | Colorado Driver Handbook, p.5 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Connecticut | Do not drive with head or earphones that cover or go into both ears, because they make it too hard to hear emergency horns or sirens. | Connecticut Driver's Manual, p.24 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Delaware | In Delaware it is illegal to drive with headphones or earphones that cover or go in both ears, because they make it hard to hear emergency horns or sirens. | Delaware Driver Manual, p.116 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| District of Columbia | You may not wear earplugs, a headset, or earphones attached to a radio, CD player or other audio device while driving; earphones or earplugs for cell phones, and hearing aids, are acceptable. | DC Driver Manual, p.81 | 16 Sep 2026 |
| Florida | A television-type receiver the driver can see, and headsets or headphones worn by the driver, are not permitted. | Official Florida Driver License Handbook, p.39 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Georgia | Wearing a headphone, a headset or anything else that stops you hearing is unlawful while driving in Georgia, and so is wearing anything that blocks your view. | Georgia Driver's Manual, p.58 | 18 Sep 2026 |
| Hawaii | Do not drive with headsets or earphones that cover or go in both ears; they make it too hard to hear emergency horns or sirens. | State of Hawaii Driver’s Manual, p.59 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Illinois | Illinois law prohibits headsets while driving, although a single-sided headset or earpiece used with a wireless or cellphone device is permitted. | Illinois Rules of the Road 2026, p.22 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Louisiana | Wearing headphones in both ears while driving is prohibited; one ear alone is allowed. | Class D & E Driver's Guide, p.97 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Maine | Maine's manual says to keep the radio turned down and not to wear headsets or ear buds while driving. | Maine Driver’s License Manual, p.23 | 4 Oct 2026 |
| Maryland | You may not drive while wearing earphones attached to a radio or other audio device over or in both ears. | Maryland law, Md. Code, Transp. § 21-1120(c) | 5 Oct 2026 |
| Massachusetts | It is illegal to wear a radio headset or headphones while driving, though a driver 18 or older may use one earplug with a cell phone. | Massachusetts Driver's Manual, p.39 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Minnesota | It is illegal to wear headphones or earphones in both ears while driving. | Minnesota Driver’s Manual, p.77 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Mississippi | Never wear stereo headphones while you drive, and never play your car stereo or radio loudly, because you may be unable to hear whistles and sirens. | Mississippi Driver's License Manual, p.24 | 4 Oct 2026 |
| Montana | Do not drive with headphones or earbuds; they make it too hard to hear emergency horns and sirens. | Montana Driver Manual, p.51 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| New Jersey | A driver keeps the radio turned down and does not wear earphones. | New Jersey Driver Manual, p.118 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Oregon | Being able to hear matters when driving — a change in tire sound warns of road surface changes, a change in engine sound warns of a problem, and sound can tell you a vehicle is in your blind spot — so do not use headphones that may reduce your hearing. | 2026-2027 Oregon Driver Manual, p.82 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Pennsylvania | Headphones or ear pieces may only be used in one ear, and only for communication. | PA Driver's Manual, p.32 | 6 Sep 2026 |
| Rhode Island | (a) No person shall operate a bicycle or motor vehicle upon any highway while wearing earphones, a headset, headphone, or other listening device. Any person who violates this section shall be fined: (1) one hundred dollars ($100) for the first offense, (2) one hundred ten dollars ($110) for the second offense, and (3) one hundred forty dollars ($140) for the third and each subsequent offense. | Rhode Island law, R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-23-51(a) | 8 Oct 2026 |
| Washington | It is against the law to drive wearing earbuds, earphones, headphones, or headsets that broadcast sound or cancel noise. | Washington State Driver Guide, p.70 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Wisconsin | A driver must not drive with headsets or headphones that cover or go in both ears. | Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook, p.49 | 14 Sep 2026 |
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No rule found
No rule found in the manual or code of: Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming.
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The ask box answers “May you wear headphones while driving?” for every state at once when Nationwide is ticked: each state’s figure from its own manual or code, cited, and the states that say nothing named.