Arkansas Driver's License Issue Date: Where to Find ISS and What It Means
The issue date on an Arkansas driver's license is labeled ISS and appears on the front of the card. If a form asks for your license issue date and you hold an Arkansas license, ISS is the field you want. Here is what every abbreviation and date field on your card means.
Table Of Contents
- 1. Where to find the issue date on an Arkansas driver's license
- 2. Date fields on an Arkansas driver's license
- 3. What does DD mean on an Arkansas driver's license?
- 4. Restrictions on an Arkansas driver's license
- 5. Arkansas REAL ID
- 6. The Arkansas renewal choice at 70
- 7. How to renew an Arkansas driver's license
- 8. How to find your original Arkansas licensing date
- 9. Common mistakes when entering your Arkansas license issue date
Where to find the issue date on an Arkansas driver's license
On the current Arkansas license design, the issue date is labeled ISS and printed on the front of the card. ISS stands for Issue Date and shows when the Office of Driver Services printed your current card. Renewing resets the ISS date on the new card. Your license number does not change.
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Date fields on an Arkansas driver's license
Arkansas licenses carry three date fields on the front:
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- ISS: Issue date. When your current card was printed.
- DOB: Date of birth. Used for identity and age verification.
- EXP: Expiration date. A Class D license for drivers 21 and over runs 8 years.
When a form asks for your "driver's license issue date," enter the date next to ISS. When it asks for "date of birth," enter DOB. The two sit close together on the card and are easy to mix up in a hurry.
What does DD mean on an Arkansas driver's license?
DD stands for Document Discriminator, a serial number unique to your physical card. It changes every time a new card is printed, even though your license number stays the same. Banks, car rental counters, and identity verification systems read the DD to confirm a card is genuine.
If a form asks for a "document number" separate from your license number, it usually wants the DD.
Restrictions on an Arkansas driver's license
Restrictions appear in a dedicated field on the front of the card. If that field is blank or reads None, your license carries no restrictions. Arkansas restrictions cover the same ground as most states: corrective lenses, adaptive equipment such as hand controls, additional mirrors, daylight-only driving, and interlock requirements after certain offenses. The exact letter or number printed on your card is defined by the Office of Driver Services, so check your own card rather than assuming a code means the same thing it does in another state.
Driving in violation of a restriction printed on your license is a traffic offense in Arkansas.
Arkansas REAL ID
Arkansas issues both standard and REAL ID-compliant licenses. A REAL ID Arkansas card carries a gold star in the upper corner. Since May 7, 2025, a REAL ID or another accepted federal document has been required to board domestic flights and enter certain federal facilities. A standard card without the star still works for driving and everyday identification.
To upgrade, visit a state revenue office in person with proof of identity, your Social Security number, and two documents showing your Arkansas address.
The Arkansas renewal choice at 70
Most Arkansas drivers renew a Class D license for 8 years at $40. Drivers 70 and older get a choice the rest of the state does not: a 4-year card for $20 or the standard 8-year card for $40. Neither option carries extra testing, so it comes down to how far ahead you want to pay and how often you would rather visit an office.
There is a second age quirk at the other end. A license issued to a driver between 18 and 21 is prorated and expires one month after the holder's 21st birthday, regardless of when it was issued. If you are in that window, your EXP date is tied to your birthday rather than to a fixed term, and you can renew on or after you turn 21.
How to renew an Arkansas driver's license
The Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration handles driver licensing through its Office of Driver Services. Eligible drivers can renew online through the Arkansas driver services non-commercial license page. A first-time REAL ID upgrade, a new photo, or any CDL transaction still requires an in-person visit.
You can renew starting 90 days before your expiration date. Renewing early does not shorten your new term.
- ISS is the label for the issue date on your Arkansas license. It shows when the Office of Driver Services issued your current card.
- ISS is not your date of birth (DOB) and not your expiration date (EXP): enter the date next to ISS when a form asks for "license issue date."
- If you renewed your license, the ISS date on your current card reflects the renewal, not your original license date.
- The DD field (Document Discriminator) is a card serial number, not a date: do not enter it as an issue date.
How to find your original Arkansas licensing date
The ISS date shows when your current card was printed, not when you first became licensed in Arkansas. For insurance, employment, or a CDL application that asks for your original licensing date, request your Arkansas driving record from the Department of Finance and Administration. The record lists your full licensing history rather than a single card date.
Common mistakes when entering your Arkansas license issue date
- Use the date next to ISS when any form asks for your "license issue date" or "date issued"
- Check the date format the form expects: some want MM/DD/YYYY, others want YYYY-MM-DD
- If you have a renewed license, use the ISS date on your current card, not the date you first got a license
- Budget $40 for a standard 8-year Class D renewal, not the lower figure quoted on older guides
- If you are 70 or older, decide between the $20 four-year card and the $40 eight-year card before you go
- Check your EXP date carefully if you are between 18 and 21: it tracks your 21st birthday, not a fixed term
- Don't enter your DOB (date of birth) when a form asks for the issue date: they are completely different fields
- Don't enter your EXP (expiration date) as the issue date: expiration is when the license ends, not when it was issued
- Don't use the issue date from an old expired license if you have a current one
- Don't enter the DD (Document Discriminator) number as your issue date: it's a card serial number, not a date
- Don't assume an Arkansas restriction letter means the same thing it does in another state: check your own card
- Don't wait past your expiration date to renew when you can start 90 days early
Comparing states? See our driver's license guide by state or the California issue date guide. Studying for a knowledge test? Try a free DMV practice test.
