How to Watch Top Gear Online in 2024

Top Gear is a long-running British television series that covers everything automotive, from reviews of the cars to high-adrenaline racing challenges. But it’s only streaming on BBC iPlayer, which is a UK-exclusive streaming service. BBC iPlayer can determine your location through your IP address, restricting access if you're not in the UK.

While using a VPN can assign you a UK IP address, theoretically allowing you to watch Top Gear on BBC iPlayer from anywhere, be aware that this goes against BBC iPlayer's Terms of Service and might be seen as copyright infringement.

If you’re in the UK, I recommend using ExpressVPN for watching Top Gear in HD. It offers fast speeds and a worldwide server network (including many in the UK) to let you watch Top Gear on BBC iPlayer in top quality without lag. You can try it risk-free since it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you’re not satisfied, you can get a full refund. Editor's Note: Transparency is one of our core values at vpnMentor, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as ExpressVPN. However, this does not affect our review process.

Stream in HD With ExpressVPN

Best VPNs for Watching Top Gear in 2024

1. ExpressVPN – Ultra-Fast Speeds to Watch Top Gear With No Buffering

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Tested November 2024

Works With:

Netflix Disney+ APV HBO Max

Hulu BBC iPlayer Sky More

Try ExpressVPN >

www.expressvpn.com

ExpressVPN’s superfast servers ensure you get a great streaming experience. After testing 10 UK servers based around London I was impressed by the consistently high speeds. You only need 5 Mbps to stream in HD, but I was getting between 64-68 Mbps whenever I checked. With speeds like this you won’t miss a moment of the car-based banter.

You can watch Top Gear on BBC iPlayer in top quality

A vast server network ensures you can connect to any location you want without worrying about overcrowded servers. While in the UK, I connected to ExpressVPN’s London server and could smoothly stream Top Gear without issues. There were no slowdowns — my speed remained consistent throughout the stream.

MediaStreamer is ExpressVPN’s Smart DNS service that you can use on devices that don’t support VPNs. It can work on smart TVs, consoles, and more, so I tested this by using it on my PlayStation. After changing the DNS settings, I was set up in five minutes. If you’re in the UK, this is a good alternative to the fully-fledged VPN for streaming Top Gear on your big screen.

The one issue I found with ExpressVPN was the price which was a bit higher than I had budgeted. Luckily, it has a great discount going on at the moment for new subscribers. You can grab its deal to get 82% off the price of the service.

If you’re considering ExpressVPN, I recommend trying it out for yourself risk-free. It comes with a money-back guarantee that covers you as you use it for 30 days. I wanted to test how straightforward this would be so I got in contact with a customer service rep. They asked me a few questions about my experience before my refund was approved. I had my money back 5 days later.

2. IPVanish – Unlimited Connections to Watch Top Gear on All Your Devices

Works With:

Netflix Disney+ HBO Max Hulu

BBC iPlayer More

Try IPVanish VPN >

www.ipvanish.com

IPVanish’s unlimited connections feature lets you use all your devices at the same time. Testing this, I downloaded the apps for two phones, a tablet, and a laptop — they were all quick to connect to the servers I wanted. You’ll be able to protect multiple devices and still watch Top Gear on BBC iPlayer in HD.

Thanks to a huge number of worldwide servers, I had a selection to choose from within the UK. While in the UK, I tested 3 different UK servers and had no issues logging in to my BBC iPlayer account and watching the show. With such reliable servers, you can watch Top Gear securely and with ease.

With IPVanish you can easily connect to UK servers

The speeds I got from IPVanish’s servers remained impressive throughout my testing. Checking the actual numbers, I saw that I was constantly getting over 60 Mbps. You’ll be watching the Top Gear specials in HD in no time.

My only problem with IPVanish is that it can struggle with some streaming platforms. Our tester in Canada reported that IPVanish didn’t work with Amazon Prime Video Canada. However, it works well with most streaming platforms.

Whether you decide to go for longer or short-term plans, you can find different discounts on IPVanish’s subscriptions. Typically you get less of a discount on short plans but you can save up to 83% right now.

If you’re concerned that signing up might be a big commitment, IPVanish has a money-back guarantee. This lets you test it for 30 days before claiming a refund. Making a claim is easy, and can be done by cancelling online. When I tested this method I had my money back in 5 days without any fuss.

3. CyberGhost — Optimized Server for BBC iPlayer to Reliably Stream Top Gear

Works With:

Netflix Disney+ APV HBO Max

Hulu BBC iPlayer Sky More

Try CyberGhost VPN >

www.cyberghostvpn.com

CyberGhost has dedicated servers for several streaming platforms, including BBC iPlayer. As someone who has used CyberGhost’s streaming servers for years, I can confirm that they’re reliable. In my tests from the UK, I connected to its BBC iPlayer UK server and was able to stream Top Gear in HD with ease.

Its impressive speeds guarantee an excellent streaming experience. The BBC iPlayer website was quick to navigate, and the streaming quality was consistently high definition. After averaging the speeds from various servers across my multiple devices, I got an impressive 59 Mbps. This ensures you'll never miss the antics of your favourite (or not so favourite) celebrity guests losing control on the track.

The only disappointing aspect I found to CyberGhost was the relatively low discount on the short-term plans. While looking through the different subscription levels, I found that this is balanced by the discount on the longer plans. These let you take 83% off the price of a new subscription.

If you’re still considering a CyberGhost subscription, it does have generous money-back guarantees on all of its plans. The longer plans in particular cover you as you try it out for 45 days. To test the process of making a claim, I contacted customer service. I had a short conversation with the rep about why I wish to cancel. She approved my request and I had my money back in 6 days.

Where Can I Watch Top Gear Online?

Streaming services have to limit where they show certain programs because of licensing deals. That's why shows like Top Gear aren’t available to watch everywhere. If you're looking to stream Top Gear online, here's where you can find it:

• BBC iPlayer, which is only available in the UK (includes Top Gear Specials)
• Pluto TV in the US (26 seasons)
• Pluto TV in Canada (18 seasons)
• Amazon Prime Video’s Canadian library (12 seasons)
• Netflix US (5 seasons)

How to Sign Up for BBC iPlayer to Watch Top Gear

1. Visit the BBC iPlayer website. Navigate to the official BBC iPlayer website using your preferred browser.
2. Create an account. Follow the on-screen instructions and create an account. Make sure you have a TV license before signing up.
3. Start streaming Top Gear. Log in to your account, use the search bar to find Top Gear, and start streaming.

FAQs on Watching Top Gear

Can I watch Top Gear for free?

Yes, you can watch Top Gear for free on BBC iPlayer. However, while BBC iPlayer is free, the BBC does require viewers to have a valid TV license. It's also worth noting that BBC iPlayer is exclusively available to viewers in the UK.

Sadly, the show isn't available for free outside of the UK. If you’re based in the US or Canada, you can catch some of the seasons on platforms such as Pluto TV, Netflix, and Amazon Prime Video.

Where can I watch the Top Gear specials?

The Top Gear specials can be found on BBC iPlayer, which is only accessible to UK residents. While a VPN can theoretically change your virtual location, it's important to note that using one to access BBC iPlayer from outside the UK goes against the platform's Terms of Service and might constitute copyright infringement. My team and I don’t condone this. Always ensure you're adhering to all relevant guidelines and regulations.

Can I watch Top Gear on Netflix?

Yes, Top Gear is available on Netflix, but only in the US library where you can find 5 seasons of the show. Other Netflix libraries do not currently offer Top Gear.

How can I watch Top Gear from India, the US, and abroad?

In the US, you can watch 26 seasons of Top Gear on Pluto TV and the first 5 seasons on Netflix US. However, Top Gear isn't available in India and many other countries.

Conclusion

BBC iPlayer restricts its content to viewers outside the UK. A VPN can give you a UK IP address, hypothetically letting you watch Top Gear from abroad, but this practice goes against BBC iPlayer’s Terms of Service and can be considered copyright infringement. The team and I don’t condone using a VPN for any illicit activity.

For those in the UK, I recommend ExpressVPN for watching Top Gear safely. With its fast speeds and reliable server network, you’ll have no problem streaming BBC iPlayer in HD. It’s even backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can test it risk-free. If it’s not for you, it’s easy to get a refund.

To summarize, the best VPNs for watching Top Gear are…

Editor's Note: We value our relationship with our readers, and we strive to earn your trust through transparency and integrity. We are in the same ownership group as some of the industry-leading products reviewed on this site: Intego, Cyberghost, ExpressVPN, and Private Internet Access. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.

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