How to check if your helmet's ISI mark is genuine

The short answer: do not trust the ISI logo, trust the licence number next to it. A helmet made for sale in India must carry the BIS standard mark along with a licence number in the CM/L format and the standard it is certified to, which for two-wheeler helmets is IS 4151:2015. You then type that licence number into the free BIS Care app, under "Verify Licence Details", and see whether a real manufacturer, product and standard come up. If nothing comes up, the mark on your helmet means nothing.

BIS puts this plainly in its own consumer advisory on helmets: "Ensure Helmets has ISI Marked on it before purchase. Using a helmet without this BIS certification is not only illegal but also puts your life at risk."

The three minute check before you pay

Start inside the helmet. Look at the label or the stamping under the comfort liner and at the back of the shell for the ISI mark, the CM/L licence number and the IS 4151:2015 reference. A shop helmet with a logo but no number, or a number that does not match the brand on the outside, is where most roadside buys fall apart.

Next, open the BIS Care app. It is free on Android and iOS, works in 12 languages, and is built for exactly this. Use "Verify Licence Details" for ISI mark products, and "Verify R-Number under CRS" if you are checking an electronic item such as a charger. The same app lets you register a complaint about product quality or misuse of the BIS standard mark.

If the helmet is an imported model, the foreign factory needs its own BIS licence under the Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme. BIS publishes FMCS licensee lists that you can browse country wise or by Indian Standard, so you can check whether a brand's overseas plant holds a licence against IS 4151.

What the enforcement record tells you

As of June 2025 there were 176 manufacturers across India holding valid BIS licences for protective helmets, and BIS said it had run more than 30 search and seizure operations in the previous financial year, testing over 500 helmet samples. One Delhi drive took non-compliant helmets from 9 manufacturers. Another cleared out 17 retail and roadside locations.

The raids have continued through 2026. On 22 July 2026, BIS seized helmets of the XINOR NEXO and AXXIS brands from an automotive outlet in Governorpet, Vijayawada, for storing and selling helmets without the ISI mark. BIS cited sections 17 and 29(3) of the BIS Act, 2016, which carry imprisonment of up to three years and a fine of ₹2 lakh to ₹5 lakh, or up to ten times the value of the goods. BIS again asked buyers to verify products through the BIS Care app, and said complainants are kept confidential.

What a certified helmet actually costs

A legal helmet is not an expensive helmet. On Vega's own site, list prices run from ₹1,502 for the Sniper flip-up and ₹1,853 for the Sonic Scope, up to ₹2,700 for a Rapid DV in solid colours and ₹3,482 for the Arrow Runner Dual Visor. That is the whole argument against a ₹400 pavement helmet, since the gap is one tank of fuel on a tour.

If a seller refuses to show you the licence number, or the number fails in the app, walk out and file a complaint. BIS runs online complaint registration and a complaint status check on its site, in addition to the app route. For a touring rider, the paperwork check is the cheapest safety upgrade available.

Sources

• BIS Care App, Bureau of Indian Standards
• BIS consumer advisory on helmets and IS 4151
• Centre cracks down on substandard helmets, ETV Bharat, 5 July 2025
• BIS seizes non-ISI helmets in Vijayawada raid, Deccan Chronicle
• BIS FMCS licensee lists
• BIS complaint handling
• Vega Helmets official store