Skip to main content

There’s a common rumor that it is illegal to drive while wearing loose sandals, such as flip flops. The truth is that no law explicitly forbids driving in flip flops, but the rumor may originate with the law that you must wear “appropriate” footwear for safety.

What is “appropriate” footwear? This catch-all law is aimed to prevent loose shoes that could get caught on a pedal and cause an accident. It’s a general law and the final definition may come down to the police officer who pulls you over–or even the vehicle you drive.

Here’s an example: I’ve hopped in my truck in flip flops and had no trouble with the pedals. There is a ton of extra room, and the angle my feet were at meant I never caught the bottom of a flip flop. But then I tried to drive in a smaller sports car in flip flops and I’ll never do that again.

In the smaller car, with the smaller pedals, I found that whenever I released a pedal my flip flops got stuck on the carpet below and began to come off my feet. The result could have been a gas pedal stuck down, or a shoe falling off right before I needed to press my brakes. Either could cause a crash.

A person driving while wearing flipflops
Male foot on the pedal of a car | iStock

So will you get pulled over for wearing flip flops while driving? That’s unlikely because–you know–cops can’t see your feet while you’re driving. If they stop you for something else, they might see your feet. And if they are really worried about you having “appropriate” footwear, they might give you a hard time and even write a ticket.

A much more likely scenario is that you actually get a flip flop stuck on your pedal, cause a crash, and then it emerges what you were wearing. At that point, in addition to being charged with causing a crash, you might get hit with an inappropriate footwear fine.

If you are driving in flip flops and find they’re catching on pedals it might be your best move to take them off. That’s right, there’s no state with a law that explicitly prohibits driving barefoot. Some states and law enforcement agencies recommend you don’t drive barefoot. But contrary to popular belief, it’s legal to drive without shoes on.

Next, find out whether it’s actually legal to drive naked, or see what a Florida state trooper has to say about driving in flip flops in the video below:

Best in Tips, Tricks & Trends
Avatar photo
Staff Writer

Henry Cesari

Henry Cesari joined MotorBiscuit in 2021 and brings his deep interest in vintage cars, trucks, and motorcycles to the site. Having restored his first classic car at just 16 years old, Henry has wrenched on everything from overland campers to Japanese motorcycles and even pre-war Bugattis. Henry is also an avid attendee at local car shows and genuinely enjoys connecting with fellow auto enthusiasts.

Henry earned a Bachelor’s in Anthropology and English from the University of Vermont. He has since incorporated his love of the written word with his admiration of classic cars. While Henry is interested in vintage cars, he believes the golden age of cars is yet to come. He is confident journalists will play an important role in this revolution by exposing the industry as it is now and envisioning its possible future.