Former Top Gear presenter James May has failed a driving test after voluntarily retaking the exam 46 years after first earning his licence.

The television personality, known for his extensive motoring experience and decades spent reviewing cars, decided to take the modern test to see how it compares with the version he passed in 1980.

Despite arriving with confidence and a lifetime of driving behind him, the result did not go as planned.

Curious to compare old and new tests

May explained that he wanted to experience firsthand how much the UK driving test has changed since he originally qualified more than four decades ago.

“Now, I do of course already have a licence. It was 1980 when I last took a test, and things have moved on a lot since then; the test is apparently very different,” he said.

Rather than studying modern test requirements beforehand, May chose to approach the challenge without preparation.

“I haven’t revised for it. I haven’t learned anything about it. I’m just going to do it and see if I can pass,” he added.

Speeding faults prove costly

Although May completed the test with decades of driving experience behind the wheel, he was marked down for exceeding speed limits during the assessment.

According to the test results, he was recorded driving at 46mph in a 40mph zone and 33mph in a 30mph zone.

The speeding offences resulted in a failed test despite his familiarity with driving and road conditions.

Taking the result in good humour

May accepted the outcome with his trademark humour, acknowledging that experience alone does not necessarily guarantee success under modern testing standards.

Rather than expressing frustration, he thanked viewers who followed the challenge and appeared amused by the result.

A lifelong motoring enthusiast

James May is best known for presenting Top Gear alongside Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond, helping turn the BBC programme into one of the world’s most successful motoring shows.

The trio later reunited for Amazon Prime Video’s The Grand Tour, where May continued to showcase his passion for cars, engineering and travel.

His failed driving test serves as a reminder that even some of Britain’s most experienced motoring personalities can find today’s driving standards challenging when put to the test.