There is no single legal or clinical day when every patient is safe to drive. The driver must control the vehicle reliably, react quickly, walk safely to and from the car, and avoid medication that impairs judgement or reaction time.
Insurers may impose their own requirements. A clinician can advise on recovery, but the decision must also comply with licensing and insurance obligations. Testing braking informally on public roads is unsafe.
The postoperative shoe or boot must no longer be required for driving.
You must be able to move the ankle and forefoot quickly and without hesitation.
You must be off opioid or other sedating medication.
Pain must not distract from driving or slow emergency braking.
The vehicle type matters: a manual transmission requires reliable use of both feet.
Can I drive if surgery was on the left foot?
Possibly earlier in an automatic vehicle, but only when transfer, walking, medication and safe vehicle control are satisfactory. A manual vehicle still requires the left foot for the clutch.