Is Driving Barefoot Illegal in Minnesota?

Barefoot driving in Minnesota is perfectly legal—just make sure your lack of shoes doesn’t lead you to distracted driving or a moving violation.
Written by Olivia Rose
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
Barefoot driving is completely legal in
Minnesota
, even though many think it’s not. But it might not be the safest option compared to wearing a good pair of shoes. 
If you’re a fan of throwing off your shoes before a stint behind the wheel, you’re probably no stranger to the scaremongering: “Put your shoes on—it’s illegal to drive barefoot!”
The
car insurance
super-app
Jerry
is here to throw that myth out the door. That’s right—barefoot driving is legal in all 50 U.S. states! 
But some states—
Minnesota
included—will penalize you if you get into a collision or have a moving violation and your bare feet are to blame. 
Let’s take a look at the ins and outs of barefoot driving rules in Minnesota. 
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Is it illegal to drive barefoot in Minnesota?

No! Barefoot driving is totally legal in Minnesota and the rest of the U.S. In 1994, a guy named Jason Heimbaugh was wondering if it was legal to drive barefoot. To satisfy his curiosity, he wrote to the DMV in every state, plus Washington D.C., with his question. Over the summer, he heard back from every jurisdiction—driving without shoes is perfectly legal.
The Duluth News Tribune confirmed with a state trooper that barefoot driving is perfectly legal in Minnesota—but you should be aware that it might come with some risks. 
Driving barefoot is fine and good—until you hurt your foot and become a distracted driver. Your car could have sharp objects or edges in the dash and pedal area that could injure your foot while driving barefoot. An injury could lead to distracted driving—which could lead to a number of moving violations or accidents. 
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Is it safe to drive barefoot?

Even though driving barefoot is legal in all states, most states warn that barefoot driving could be unsafe. 
A proper-fitting pair of closed-toed shoes are your best bet for safe driving. Good shoes will keep your feet comfortable and protected—and help you maintain full control over your car. 
Here are some of the ways barefoot driving can lead you to have less control over your vehicle: 
  • Reduced braking force
  • Your bare feet often have less traction than good shoes—especially if they are wet
  • Distraction by barefoot driving
  • Higher likelihood for serious injury to your feet if you get in an accident
Barefoot driving is safer than wearing certain shoes—like flip-flops or high-heels—behind the wheel. You’re best off chucking these shoes and opting for barefoot driving. 
The bottom line: well-fitting closed-toed shoes with good traction are your best bet for safe, undistracted driving. But barefoot driving is safer than driving with flimsy shoes like heels or flip-flops—and you won’t be breaking the law. 
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How to save money on car insurance in Minnesota

Now that you’re all set up for some safe and legal driving, make sure you get covered with good car insurance. 
Not sure where to start?
Car insurance
super-app
Jerry
can help you out there. 
We help you locate competitive
quotes
for car insurance policies in less than 45 seconds. Your only job is to answer some basic questions—then shop away!
Jerry makes finding and selecting coverage easy by cross-analyzing your best options and organizing your quotes into different tiers of coverage so you can find the policy that suits your needs and your budget. 
And don’t worry—we’ll make sure you hit your legal minimums for driving in your state. 
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Jerry
walked me through step by step and sent me notifications to let me know about the next steps. Very friendly, knowledgeable and professional. They did the work and made it easy to understand. I highly recommend using this service.” —Jerry user
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