That James Mayone of the most recognizable faces in the motor world thanks to programs like Top Gear either The Grand Tourend up appearing in court is not something that happens every day. And even less for a reason that, in the eyes of many fans, borders on the absurd, that is without a doubt. And no, it’s not what you’re thinking. “I wasn’t going too much.”slowly”.
The 63-year-old Briton was summoned by the UK Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) after it was detected that one of its motorcycles, a Suzuki GT750 More than half a century old, it did not have valid insurance. The date indicated in the accusation places the violation on July 17, 2025, when the motorcycle was still registered in his name without complying with the legal requirements.
The striking thing about the case is that no one is accused May of driving without insurance. In fact, there is no evidence that he even used the motorcycle. The problem lies in British law, which requires any registered vehicle to be insured at all times, regardless of whether it is used or stored in a garage.
This legal framework is based on the so-called Continuous Insurance Enforcement (CIE), a regulation introduced in 2011 to combat the high number of uninsured drivers in the UK. The logic of this rule is simple: if a vehicle exists administratively, it must be covered by insurance. Otherwise, the owner must formally declare that it is out of circulation through the SORN system (Statutory Off Road Notification).
What problem has James May had with the law?
In the case of James Mayeverything points to carelessness rather than deliberate infringement. It would not be strange, taking into account the extensive collection of vehicles that the presenter owns, which could have caused him to simply overlook the administrative situation of this Japanese classic.
As we have learned, in the end, the matter did not escalate. The case was settled out of court, thus avoiding a formal hearing before the judge. Even so, the episode has reopened a recurring debate in England: does it make sense to penalize someone for a vehicle that is not in use?
From a Spanish perspective, where compulsory insurance is linked mainly to circulation and not so much to mere possession, the situation is shocking to say the least. However, we must remember that in the legal framework, in Spain we are also obliged to have the motorcycle insured even if we do not use it. The only way to avoid this is to temporarily cancel it.
In the United Kingdom, this policy was implemented to reduce the costs derived from drivers without coverage, which for years had an impact on the price of other users’ policies.
The case of James Maybeyond the anecdote, serves to remind us that not all traffic regulations work the same in Europe. And that, even for someone nicknamed “Captain Slow”, legal problems can arise… even if the motorcycle does not even leave the garage.
