TV licence renewal date question

frosch411

Hi forumites

From the excellent "Do I need a TV licence" article, point 12 on licence duration/best renewal date, I know that it is best to renew at the beginning of the month or as close as possible.

Yesterday (03-MAR-2023), I received the annual reminder to renew my licence; the letter states: "Licence renewal date 31 March 2023".

I was thinking of letting the licence laps, then renew on 01-APR-2023 (obviously not using any equipment before the licence was renewed on 01-APR-2023 as to not be in any kind of breach). 
Would this be ok?

Alternatively, I'd have to renew now asap and take the hit in that the new licence would only run until 29-FEB-2024 if I understood point 12 in the article correctly.

Thank you for your inputs on this

p00hsticks

You are over thinking it I think. 

As I read it, Point 12 of that article only applies to buying a new licence for the first time.
 
In my experience, when you renew an existing licence it will just automatically continue on for twelve months from the day after  the old one expires. There's no need to time the payment.   

MalMonroe

Hi, I really can't see any benefit to doing that at all. You'll gain absolutely nothing and you'll lose absolutely nothing.

I pay monthly - it doesn't cost any more to do it that way - and just receive an annual email every January to let me know that the licence will be continuing for another 12 months.

That way I can, and do, forget all about it. You could do the same. You can't really get much closer to the start of a month than the last day of the preceding month. (That could just be my thinking though!)  

Rodders53

Look at your current TV Licence.  What does it say in the "Valid Until" box? 

31/03/2023 by any chance?

If so you can renew any time this month and the new licence will be valid until 31/032024, starting on 1st April after the current Licence expires (at midnight).

The only time it is 'best' to buy as early in the month as possible is when first getting a Licence or after a time without a Licence.

If TV Licensing letter really says "renewal date" for an existing licence it's probably just not very well worded?

frosch411

Rodders53 said:

Look at your current TV Licence.  What does it say in the "Valid Until" box? 

31/03/2023 by any chance?

If so you can renew any time this month and the new licence will be valid until 31/032024, starting on 1st April after the current Licence expires (at midnight).

The only time it is 'best' to buy as early in the month as possible is when first getting a Licence or after a time without a Licence.

If TV Licensing letter really says "renewal date" for an existing licence it's probably just not very well worded?

Yes it does
The letter starts with "Renew your licence by 31-MAR-23", I never looked at the bottom part with the "Valid Until" box, thinking this was a detachable slip to pay by post of paypoint (I pay in full annually for convenience as opposed to DD).

Thank you everyone for all your swift responses; I didn't realise the article was mostly regarding the first licence, d'uh.

Since nothing is gained/lost, I'll renew on the 31-MAR.

Thank you all

Rodders53

"Renew by 31st" is correct.  So as not to become unlicensed at midnight on 31st rolling into the 1st April.

Easy to renew online and pay by a suitable credit card to get cashback in the finest MSE tradition.  'tis what I do now but in September.