Displaying new tax disc prior to expiry of old disc

monkeyspanner

I have always displayed my new tax disc as soon as I have renewed. Someone told be recently that this is illegal and I should not display until the first day of the first month. Loads of different opinions on web forums but did find this on directgov.
A current tax disc must be displayed on the vehicle it was bought for. If you buy a new tax disc before your current tax disc expires, you should not display the new one until the old one has expired. The new tax disc is only valid from the first day of the month you have taxed from. The maximum penalty for failure to display a current tax disc is £200. The tax disc can not be transferred between vehicles.
If you use the electronic vehicle licensing service or tax by post at the end of the month, there’s now an exemption for not displaying a tax disc. This exemption covers the first five working days of the month to allow time for the new disc to arrive in the post. While you are still waiting for your tax disc you will need to display your current tax disc. The exemption only applies if applications are made before the current tax disc or SORN expires.


Has anyone actually been fined for this?

wealdroam

monkeyspanner wrote: »

Does this mean if your car is street parked you have to go out and change the disc at 12 midnight or display both discs?

Clearly that is exactly what it means.

Can you think of any other interpretation?

I can't.

bazster

I wouldn't worry about it, the police don't go along the streets checking tax discs.

Mindless_Clone

Huh, I never knew that. I have always put my new disc in as soon as I got it, usually a few days/up to a week before. I've never been done for not displaying a current disc. My guess is that although the law states it, the reality is you're extremely unlikely to get done for it.

The other solution, of course, would be to display both old and new together for a short period. And then you won't have to get out of bed at midnight and swap them over.

monkeyspanner

wealdroam wrote: »

Clearly that is exactly what it means.

Can you think of any other interpretation?

I can't.

Ouch who got out of the wrong side of the bed today?

interstellaflyer

The only time I've ever displayed a disc early was when we were on holiday and the old one expired whilst we were away, I just put the new one next to the old one, I can't see any reason, other than that for putting the new disc in early, put the new disc in first thing the next morning, I can't see you getting done for failing to display on the first day of the month, especially within the first few hours.