Photo of person wearing flip-flops by Nabeel Syed

Is it illegal to drive barefoot in the UK?

The age old question of driving barefeet illegal is finally being answered - in the UK. Numerous citations say that it is against the law… it's simply not true!

You are allowed to get behind the wheel in the UK whilst barefoot or wearing flip-flops as long as you are able to operate the vehicle safely. If you have wet feet or are not comfortable, keep in mind you may not be safe and could be putting yourself and passengers at risk.

So, even though it isn't illegal, it doesn't mean it is the right thing to do.

According to the DVSA, "suitable shoes are particularly important behind the wheel. We would not recommend driving barefoot because you don’t have the same braking force with bare feet as you do with shoes on."