You’ve broken your ankle, and you’re wondering when you can drive a car again?
I’m a physiotherapist, and my patients often ask me this question. Sometimes in the first few days after their fracture, operated or not. Sometimes after a few weeks.
In this article, I’ve compiled all the information I consider useful to help you understand when you can drive again and when you can’t, while minimizing any form of risk!
You’ll find the references I used at the end of the article.
Happy reading 🙂 ! Visit us in comments if you have any comments, corrections to make or questions.
Summary: It is not recommended to drive with a fractured ankle if you have a cast or walking boot, although it is not strictly forbidden. Generally speaking, it’s advisable to wait 1? to 2 months.
Last update: September 15, 2025
Written by Nelly Darbois, physiotherapist and scientific editor
Why wonder when to drive after a fracture?
Following your ankle fracture, you’ve probably noticed that some movements are harder to perform.
Whether you’re wearing a walking boot or a cast (or not), your doctor, surgeon, or physiotherapist may have advised you against certain movements—such as putting weight on the injured leg.
You may also feel pain when trying to do specific activities.
Or perhaps you don’t feel particularly limited when moving or driving, but a healthcare professional—or someone close to you—has forbidden or strongly advised against driving.
For one or several of these reasons, many of my patients wonder when and how they can safely drive again after breaking one or both ankle bones (malleoli). And if you’ve landed on this article, chances are you’re asking yourself the same question!
What does the law say about resuming driving after an ankle fracture?
The French Highway Code doesn’t deal specifically with this. Here’s what it says that comes closest:
All vehicle drivers must be in a constant state of readiness and in a position to carry out all manoeuvres required of them conveniently and without delay.
Article R. 412-6 of the Highway Code
Basically, it’s up to you to decide whether or not you’re fit to drive.
This leaves the insurance companies room for maneuver in the event of an accident. If you’re concerned about liability in the event of an accident, it’s best to :
- look at what it says on your automobile liability insurance policy;
- contact your insurer for more information.
Is it legal to drive with a cast or walking boot?
Highway Code says nothing specific about whether or not you can drive with a cast.
With a cast or a walking boot, it’s quite likely that we could assume that you weren’t in a position to hold the steering wheel properly in the event of a problem, especially without an automatic car.
Law does not strictly prohibit driving with a walking boot or a cast. However, the Highway Code stipulates that the driver must ensure that he or she is always in a position to perform any maneuver.
What’s the risk of driving too soon after a malleolar fracture?
Here are the risks of getting back in the car too soon after your fracture:
- The main risk of returning to driving too soon is that you may not be physically well enough to ensure your safety and that of others you meet along the way.
- You could also have problems with your insurance in the event of an accident.
- You may awaken pain in the short or medium term.
But there are also advantages to driving a car again!
- You’ll be back to normal more quickly, for both your professional and personal activities.
- You’re potentially more active if you use the car to do things that require movement.
- You’re thinking about something other than the accident you’ve had.
That’s why there’s a fine balance to be struck between too much and too little caution when deciding when to drive home after breaking your malleolus!
A research team has been investigating what stops people from returning to driving after a leg fracture.
In order of importance to patients before driving again , here’s what they thought was most important :
- the risk of increased pain (62%),
- the risk of damaging the prosthesis or surgical material (17%),
- the time taken to resume driving as indicated by their professionals (13%),
- braking safety (8%).
Source: DeLeon 2022
How long do I have to drive again after an ankle fracture?
A research team from the USA and Italy (MacKenzie 2019) found that surgeons differed widely in their practices when it came to allowing or disallowing patients to resume driving after orthopedic surgery of the upper or lower limbs.
So the team compiled everything researchers around the world had to say on the subject.
Here are the most frequently recommended deadlines:
- Operated or non-operated ankle fracture, right side:
- 6 to 9 weeks (2 months)
- or 8 days after removal of the cast, resin or walking boot
- Left ankle fracture: no specific duration
It is not advisable to drive with a fractured ankle if you have a cast or walking boot on. Generally speaking, it is advisable to wait 1? to 2 months.
As far as I know, my patients don’t drive with their walking boot or cast on. They generally resume driving within a few days of the follow-up X-ray, or 1? months after the fracture.
Others wanted to get back to work quickly (or had to take their children from one place to another) and were back in the car after 2/3 weeks (but without a cast or walking boots), while they were getting around on crutches, whether or not they were allowed to put pressure on the foot.
The times indicated in the previous section give you a rough idea. But how do you know when it’s the right time for you?
Here is some advice I give to my patients:
- Take your place at the wheel, at a standstill. Perform all common maneuvers at a standstill:
- press the brake, clutch and accelerator pedals faster or slower;
- use all gears, including reverse.
If all is well, then you can consider driving for a short distance, about ten minutes. Then gradually increase the time spent driving.
Also check how you feel after driving: in the hours and at night: are your aches and pains about the same as normal?
If so, then it’s probably because taking up driving again is right for you!
***
Do you have an experience to share or questions? Visit us in comments!
