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Snell SA2025 Helmet Timeline

Its 2025, where are the SA 2025 Helmets?

The Snell Memorial Foundation sets a strict calendar for the testing, manufacture, and rollout of helmets certified to each 5-year SA standard. Snell SA-rated helmets are NEVER available before the year of the SA standard. To ensure a level playing field, Snell typically does not allow sales of the new helmets until the fall of the year of the SA standard. SA2025 is no exception.

Is anyone making SA2025 helmets yet?

The final Snell SA2025 standard has been published, and manufacturers began submitting their 2025 helmets for testing in the summer of 2024. But Snell will not even release the SA2025 decals to manufacturers until April 2025. Anyone claiming to have Snell SA2025 helmets for sale prior to April 2025 is committing fraud!

When can I buy an SA2025 helmet?

Snell will not allow manufacturers to advertise or sell their SA2025 approved helmets until October 1, 2025. If you need a new SA-rated helmet for the 2025 racing season, you will need to buy an SA2020 helmet.

Aren’t the SA2020 helmets outdated?

The SA2020 standard will still be current for most racing organizations. Snell recommends that SA20-approved helmets in good condition should still be accepted (at least until the end of their recommended 5-year lifespan).

How long will an SA2020 helmet be good for?

Unfortunately, most racing organizations have not announced their changeover plans yet, so it is impossible to give a solid answer. Right now, we can only point to history and precedent.

In previous years, SCCA has accepted the current SA standard plus the previous standard (that currently means SA20 and SA15). In the past, the rule has usually been updated to take effect after helmets with the newest standard have been available for one full year. For example, for the SA20 changeover, SA10 helmets were accepted until the beginning of 2021 (SA20 helmets went on sale in October 2020). If the SA25 changeover follow the same schedule, SA15 helmets would be accepted through most of 2026 and SA20 helmets should be accepted until the end of 2031.

Note that every racing organization is different. Please check your rulebook.

PCA has announced that tentatively, SA2015 helmets will be allowed until March 2026, but reserve the right to extend that depending on helmet availability. 

How is the Snell SA2025 standard different from the SA2020 standard?

SA2025 is very much an incremental change from SA2020. The primary aim was to bring the impact testing even more in line with FIA 8859-2024 requirements. All criteria will now be the same as or more stringent than FIA requirements. Note that Snell SA2025 certification does not automatically grant FIA homologation! A helmet which passes Snell SA2025 tests will theoretically pass FIA tests, but the helmet manufacturer must submit the helmet to the FIA in order to receive FIA homologation.

If I already have an SA2020 helmet, how long can I keep using it?

Even the best materials degrade over time, and the high-performance, lightweight materials in your helmet are no exception. Sunlight, ozone, perspiration, and even everyday bumps and knocks all take their toll on the shell and the inner liner. Snell recommends helmet replacement after 5 years of use, or immediately after any incident. Remember, the consequences of auto racing incidents can be violent and permanent. Only use safety equipment that is in top condition. When in doubt, replace it.