Displaying new road fund licence early

[heyou]

Bought my new road fund licence on the 18th as the current one expires at the end of Jan. I was about to put it in the car and i was told by a friend that i'd be commiting an offence by not showing a current valid tax disc as the new tax disc isn't legal until it comes into force on the 1st of Feb. Is this right?

I bought it early so i wouldn't forget, but I haven't put it in the car yet since being told this. What's the betting i now go and forget to put the new tax disc in on the 1st of Feb.

[Mr E]

I think your friend is correct.

I've driven around for a couple of weeks with a out of date tax, and a new - valid - one in the glovebox where I'd put it 10 days earlier.

Doh.

[fast westfield]

Put them both in the window.

Paul.

[Mr E]

fast westfield said:

Put them both in the window.

Cunning....

[supersix]

I was told that the disk was legal for use the moment you get it, which is why you can only get one in advance if you currently have tax on the car? I've always done this anyway. Besides, the disks don't have start dates, only a post office stamp with today's date on.

[supersix]

Ooooh, I take it all back. Just had a rummage around on the DVLA websh1te, and it appears your friend is correct. It's a dumb rule though

[heyou]

fast westfield said:

Put them both in the window. Paul.

I want to be able to see out of the windscreen, besides with the furry dice the Sharon and Kevin shade strip the row of cuddly toys along the dash the radar detector and jammer the GPS receiver the extreme tinting and my burbery cap that keeps falling over my eyes there's little view left of the road as it is without obscuring my view any more

[xxplod]

Yep. You're only allowed to get it a certain amount of time before it's due. I think its about 2 weeks. Once you've got it, you can put it in the window. Incidentally, I believe there was a stated case, which established a defence to failing to display a VEL if you are swapping it for the new replacement.

I'll get my coat.

[Balmoral Green]

Who sold you that? the RFL was scrapped in 1961.