Style guide
The Driver Cap
Also known as: motoring cap, cabbie cap
The driver cap (or motoring cap) is a tight, low-profile cap with a short, slightly curved brim and a body that hugs the head. It was designed at the turn of the 20th century for the new sport of motoring, when cars had no roofs and a normal hat would either fly off or block the driver's vision.
History
When the first production cars hit roads in the 1900s, drivers needed headwear that stayed put at speed and didn't interfere with goggles. The driver cap — closely related to the ivy cap but cut tighter and lower — became standard kit, often paired with a long duster coat and gauntlets. It survived as the cap of choice for chauffeurs and cabbies (hence "cabbie cap") well into the 1950s, and now lives on as a city-friendly alternative to the bigger newsboy and scally.
How it's made
Driver caps are usually four to six panels with a low crown that sits closer to the skull than a scally. The brim is short and gently curved. Stretch wool, leather, suede and waxed cotton are all common — the cap is meant to grip the head, so many modern versions have an elasticated rear band.
How to wear it
Pull it down level with the brows. Because the cap sits low and tight it works under hooded jackets and helmets, and it pairs naturally with leather and outerwear. It's the most utilitarian cap in the family, so lean into that — moto jackets, peacoats, chore coats.
The buyer’s handbook
A better cap starts with the right cut.
A cap can look right in a photograph and feel wrong on your head. Start with the shape, then choose cloth for the weather and measure before ordering.
Eight-piece, duckbill or flat?
An eight-piece crown has wedge-shaped panels meeting at the top, creating a rounder, fuller silhouette; a newsboy often has a top button. An ivy or driver cap sits closer to the head with less volume. A duckbill tapers tightly toward the peak, while “flat cap” is often used as the umbrella term—check the side profile rather than the product name alone.
Compare the shapes →Measure before choosing a size.
Wrap a soft tape around the widest part of your head, roughly a finger above your eyebrows and just above your ears. Keep it level and comfortably snug; take the measurement twice. Compare the number in centimetres with the individual maker’s chart—letter sizes are not universal. If you fall between sizes, check the maker’s exchange policy rather than guessing.
See the measuring diagram →Choose fabric for the season.
Wool tweed is a sound starting point for cool, changeable days: the weave gives the cap texture and body. Linen and lighter cotton tend to breathe better in warm weather. Fabric weight, lining and weave matter as much as the fibre name, so check each product’s materials instead of assuming every tweed or wool cap feels the same.
Read the fabric guides →Make wool and tweed last.
After rain, let a damp cap air-dry at room temperature with its shape supported; avoid a radiator or tumble dryer, which can distort the crown. Brush away surface dust gently and spot-clean according to the maker’s care label. If the cap has a structured peak or delicate lining, ask the maker before washing it.
Where to buy a driver cap
Makers from our directory we'd send you to first for this style.
Kangol
United Kingdom
A modern, casual newsboy or 504 in unusual colors
Stetson
United States
A reliable, well-made cap from a name everyone trusts
Boston Scally Co.
United States
A modern, collectible scally with a sports or city theme
Sterkowski
Poland
A genuinely handmade cap with European tailoring at fair prices
Common questions
- Is a driver cap the same as a flat cap?
- It's a sub-type of the flat cap family — specifically a low-profile, tight-fitting flat cap designed for motoring.
- What's the difference between a cabbie cap and a newsboy cap?
- "Cabbie cap" is sometimes used loosely for the newsboy, but historically a cabbie/driver cap is the smaller, tighter, low-crown cap — not the puffy buttoned newsboy.