- James May was prosecuted by the UK’s DVLA over an uninsured Suzuki GT750
- The case was settled out of court, May did not appear before the judges
- The case highlights a UK law that criminalises merely owning an uninsured vehicle
Of all people, “Captain Slow” found himself in trouble with British law. James May, known as one of the three presenters of Top Gear and The Grand Tour, had to appear at Lavender Hill Magistrates’ Court in South London last Thursday. The charge sounds curious at first: May was not caught riding without insurance, but was prosecuted solely for having a motorcycle registered in his name without a valid insurance policy.
The Orange Motorcycle in Court
The vehicle in question is an orange Suzuki GT750, a roughly 50-year-old motorcycle from the first half of the 1970s. According to the charge sheet, May was alleged to have kept the motorcycle in his possession on 17 July 2025 without valid insurance. The UK’s Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) therefore brought charges against the 63-year-old presenter.
May arrived at court on Thursday morning, though not on a motorcycle but on a bicycle. He wore an orange shirt and an orange coat, matching the colour of his affected Suzuki. The case, however, never reached the judges: according to the prosecutors present, an out-of-court settlement was reached. May left the courthouse in less than an hour. He did not publicly comment on why the insurance had lapsed.
Initial reports had suggested the case involved a vintage car, but court documents confirmed it was in fact the Japanese motorcycle.
The Suzuki GT750: A Piece of Motorcycle History
The Suzuki GT750 holds a special place in the motorcycle world. Introduced in 1971, it was the first Japanese production motorcycle with a liquid-cooled engine. The 739cc two-stroke triple produced 67 hp (49 kW) and propelled the motorcycle to a top speed of around 177 km/h (110 mph). It weighed a substantial 249 kg (549 lbs).
The water-cooled two-stroke earned various nicknames depending on the market: in the US it was called the “Water Buffalo”, in Australia the “Water Bottle” and in the UK simply the “Kettle”. Suzuki developed the GT750 as a sporting tourer, less as a direct competitor to the performance-oriented superbikes from Honda and Kawasaki, but rather as a comfortable touring motorcycle with impressive mid-range torque. Production ran from 1971 to 1977.
The Law Behind It: Continuous Insurance Enforcement
The truly fascinating aspect of the case lies not with the celebrity in court, but with the underlying legislation. Since June 2011, the UK has enforced Continuous Insurance Enforcement (CIE). This law requires that every vehicle registered to a person in England, Scotland and Wales must be insured at all times, regardless of whether it is being used or not.
The only exception: the keeper declares the vehicle as off the road through a SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification). The DVLA regularly cross-references its registration data with the Motor Insurance Database (MID), maintained by the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB). If a registered vehicle is found without insurance and without a SORN declaration, the keeper first receives a warning letter (Insurance Advisory Letter). If the keeper fails to respond, fines starting at £100 (approximately €120 / $130) can be imposed, with potentially unlimited fines at court, and the vehicle may be seized or even scrapped.
The law was introduced because the UK government estimated that around 1.4 to 1.5 million vehicles were being driven on British roads without insurance. According to government figures, every honest policyholder was paying approximately £30 (around €36 / $39) extra per year through the MIB to cover the costs of accidents caused by uninsured drivers.
The key aspect of the regulation: it is not necessary for someone to actually drive without insurance. Simply keeping a registered but uninsured vehicle is sufficient grounds for prosecution. For owners of multiple vehicles who might have a rarely used motorcycle sitting in the garage, this can become a trap if the insurance lapses and no SORN declaration is filed.
James May: Motorcycle Enthusiast with an Extensive Collection
That May of all people ended up in this situation is surprising given that the presenter is known as a passionate motorcycle collector. His collection includes a Honda RC30, a Triumph Daytona, a Triumph Street Triple, two Moto Guzzis and various Japanese classics from Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and Kawasaki from the 1970s. In an interview with Bike EXIF, May described the Honda CB750 as the first motorcycle he bought with his own money and the 1970s Ducati 750SS as the most beautiful production motorcycle ever made.
In late 2024, May and his former co-presenter Richard Hammond offered several motorcycles from their personal collections for sale at a Bonhams auction. May quipped that he was only selling because he was now unemployed. In reality, he described 2025 as one of his busiest years, even though it was supposed to be his “trial retirement year”. Besides two television series, live shows in Australia, New Zealand and the UK, he runs the pub “The Royal Oak” in Wiltshire.
Given a double-digit number of vehicles, it seems plausible that the insurance on a single motorcycle may simply have lapsed without being noticed in time. May did not comment on the matter.
Not an Isolated Incident: May and UK Traffic Law
It is not the first time the presenter has come into contact with the finer points of British traffic law. In 2022, May publicly admitted to using an e-scooter on public roads, even though such vehicles are restricted to private land in the UK. May explained at the time that he deliberately ignored the regulation because, in his view, it made little practical sense.
Meanwhile, recent comments from producer Andy Wilman have fuelled speculation about a possible reunion of the Clarkson, Hammond and May trio in front of the camera. Asked on the DRIVETRIBE YouTube channel whether a renewed collaboration was possible, Wilman replied: “Why not? I think it would be as natural as anything if it happened.”
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is Continuous Insurance Enforcement in the UK?
Continuous Insurance Enforcement (CIE) is a UK law in effect since 2011 that requires every registered vehicle in England, Scotland and Wales to be insured at all times. The only exception is a SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification), which officially declares the vehicle as off the road. Violations can result in fines, vehicle seizure or even scrapping.
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Why was James May prosecuted over his Suzuki GT750?
James May was prosecuted because his Suzuki GT750, registered in his name, was neither insured nor declared off the road via SORN on 17 July 2025. Under UK law, simply owning an uninsured registered vehicle without a SORN declaration is sufficient grounds for prosecution, regardless of whether the motorcycle was actually ridden.
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What is the Suzuki GT750?
The Suzuki GT750 is a water-cooled two-stroke triple produced from 1971 to 1977 with a 739cc engine producing 67 hp (49 kW). It was the first Japanese production motorcycle with liquid cooling and was known as the Kettle in the UK and the Water Buffalo in the US. It weighed 249 kg (549 lbs) and had a top speed of around 177 km/h (110 mph).
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How was the James May case resolved?
The case was settled out of court before it went before a judge. May appeared in person at Lavender Hill Magistrates Court in South London but did not face the bench. Details of the settlement were not made public.
➜ This article is part of our comprehensive overview: Motorcycle Law & Policy: Legislation, Court Rulings and Developments for Riders. Find all key information on this topic in one place.
