Is it illegal to drive without shoes on?

It is NOT illegal in any US state to drive barefoot. Unfortunately this myth is so wide-spread that even some cops believe it; but that doesn't make it true. Please see the first link in the source.

Some cops may try to put it down as careless or reckless driving, however if you look at the other two links in the source, you should see that's not based on anything real either. Michigan police claim in their FAQ that "...an argument could be made that a barefoot person has more control over the pedals" and an Australian newspaper writes "Shoes with thin soles and low heels are safest when driving. However Mr McDonald said driving barefoot was safer than wearing bad footwear." (where 'bad footwear' includes not just high heels but 'thongs, ugg boots, stilettos and wedge heels', ie about the stuff half the population drives in)
Source(s):
http://tafkac.org/legal/driving.barefoot...
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/msp/TS...
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story...

I do it all the time, but a cop friend of mine told me that it is illegal - have no idea why! But, it's not something they can see from outside the car so the likelihood of being caught doing it is slim to none!

Not that I know of. I know people who do it all the time.

I've heard it is, but I've done it before. When I went to the Lake, I played in it a lil and my feet were all wet, didn't want my shoes and socks to. So I put my shoes close enough to my feet so if I got pulled over I could slip them on before he could get to me =P

Check your state. It's not in Virginia. I never wear shoes when I drive, even in the winter some times I'll turn the heat on high and take my shoes off.