In the high-stakes world of celebrity, where precision and skill often define their success, mastering the rules of the road has proven to be a surprisingly tough challenge for some. From darts prodigy Luke Littler to Formula 1 racers, a surprising number of stars have stumbled on their path to earning a driver’s license, revealing that even the most talented individuals can falter when faced with the intricacies of a driving test. With pass rates hovering below 50%, the journey to securing a license is no easy feat, and these 10 celebrities are proof that fame doesn’t guarantee a smooth ride.
At just 18, Luke Littler has taken the darts world by storm, earning the title of the youngest Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) World Champion and dazzling audiences with his televised nine-dart finish. Yet, despite his pinpoint accuracy on the oche, Littler has struggled to hit the mark in the driving theory exam room. The Warrington native recently shared his frustration after failing his theory test for the fourth time, scoring an impressive 45 out of 50 on the multiple-choice section but falling short with 41 out of 75 on hazard perception, just three marks shy of the passing threshold. Captioning his Instagram post with a resigned “4th time… and counting” and a nauseous emoji, Littler’s ongoing battle with the Highway Code has become a relatable struggle for his fans. His packed schedule, including appearances at the World Matchplay in Blackpool and the US Darts Masters, has left little time for studying, but Littler remains determined to eventually trade his L-plates for a license—and perhaps that Mercedes A-Class he’s been eyeing.
Littler isn’t the only high-profile figure to face setbacks behind the wheel. Former Formula 1 champion Jenson Button, a name synonymous with speed and precision, failed his first driving test in 1997. The British racing icon, who later clinched the F1 World Championship, admitted to misjudging a gap during his test, insisting, “There was definitely enough room.” Similarly, rising F1 star Oliver Bearman, who joins Haas in 2025, confessed to a rookie mistake: “I didn’t stop at a stop sign… I slowed down and I was crawling, but you are supposed to stop.” For professional drivers accustomed to navigating circuits at breakneck speeds, these road test blunders highlight the stark difference between track expertise and everyday driving rules.
Beyond the racetrack, television and film stars have also hit roadblocks. Gogglebox favorite Scarlett Moffatt endured a grueling 13 attempts before finally passing her test at age 32. Starting her lessons at 17, Moffatt’s persistence paid off, but not without years of frustration. Actress Carey Mulligan, known for her roles in films like *An Education*, failed her test five times, with one memorable mishap occurring just 90 seconds into her first attempt at 23. “I rolled back down a hill towards a Range Rover,” she recalled, adding that another failure came during pregnancy, leaving her “crying, with this huge bump and my little sheet with this red cross on it.” Meanwhile, *Underworld* star Kate Beckinsale has opted out of driving altogether after failing at least once, joking, “I believe they invented Uber just for me.”
The music world has its share of driving test woes too. Black Sabbath’s Ozzy Osbourne, the self-proclaimed Prince of Darkness, took an astonishing 19 attempts before passing in 2009. On one ill-fated test, Osbourne admitted to taking “some pills” to calm his nerves, only to fall asleep at a traffic light. Pop star Justin Bieber faced his own struggles, failing his theory test and reportedly walking home in the rain, feeling that “every car driving by was taunting me.” *Inbetweeners* actress Emily Atack shared a string of chaotic failures, including nearly running over a child on her first attempt and driving through her front door while practicing parking. “The second one, I ran every red light you can imagine,” she admitted on *I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!*.
Even rising stars like *The Last of Us* actress Bella Ramsey have faced their share of driving test drama. Ramsey flunked her exam while passing posters of herself, describing the experience as “quite strange.” These stories of perseverance, embarrassment, and occasional humor remind us that the road to a driver’s license is paved with challenges, even for those who shine in the spotlight.
For Littler, the journey continues as he balances his darts career with his quest to conquer the theory test. With the same focus that earned him a place among darts’ elite, there’s no doubt he’ll eventually claim victory on the road. For now, these celebrities’ tales of driving test failures offer a humbling reminder that even the most accomplished stars are human behind the wheel.
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