Connecticut Driver's License Issue Date: Where to Find ISS and What It Means
The issue date on a Connecticut driver's license is labeled ISS and appears on the front of the card. The Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (CT DMV) issues standard licenses valid for 6 years, one of the longer cycles in the country, so your ISS date can sit years in the past on a card that's still perfectly current. Here is where to find ISS and what every field on your Connecticut license means.
Where to find the issue date on a Connecticut driver's license
On the current CT DMV license design, the issue date sits on the front of the card labeled ISS. It marks when your current card was printed, not when you first got a Connecticut license. Renewing resets the ISS date on the new card while your license number stays the same.
Only 1% of California drivers answer all 3 correctly
Think you know the rules? Most licensed drivers miss at least one.
At 60 mph on a dry California freeway, what is the recommended minimum following distance?
Date fields on a Connecticut driver's license
- ISS: Issue date. When your current card was printed by the DMV.
- DOB: Date of birth. Used for identity and age verification.
- EXP: Expiration date. Standard Connecticut licenses run for 6 years, or 2 years for renewals at age 65 and older.
A form asking for your "driver's license issue date" wants the number next to ISS, not DOB. The two sit close together on the card and are easy to confuse at a glance.
Preparing for your DMV test?
Download our free iOS app — 1,164+ practice questions in 11 languages, flashcards, and offline study!
What does DD mean on a Connecticut driver's license?
DD stands for Document Discriminator, a serial number unique to your physical card. It changes with every new card issued, even though your license number doesn't. Banks and rental agencies use it as a secondary check that the card is genuine.
Restrictions on a Connecticut driver's license
The restrictions field on Connecticut licenses is labeled RSTR. A blank field, or one reading None, means no limits. Codes you'll commonly see include:
- A: Corrective lenses required
- B: Daylight driving only
- C: No highway or expressway driving
- E: Automatic transmission only
Driving in violation of a restriction on a Connecticut license is a traffic offense, the same as running a stop sign.
Connecticut REAL ID
Connecticut offers both a standard license and a REAL ID-compliant version marked with a gold star. Since May 7, 2025, a REAL ID or another accepted federal document is required for domestic air travel and entry to certain federal buildings. To upgrade, visit a Connecticut DMV office in person with proof of identity, your Social Security number, and two documents showing your Connecticut address.
Reduced renewal for drivers 65 and older
Connecticut is one of the few states that shortens, rather than extends, the renewal cycle for older drivers. Once you turn 65, you can renew for a 2-year term instead of the standard 6-year term, at a lower fee of $24. It's optional. Drivers who'd rather keep the standard 6-year cycle can still choose that option at renewal.
How to renew a Connecticut driver's license
Most Connecticut drivers can renew online or by mail through the CT DMV renewal page, as early as 6 months before the card expires. First-time REAL ID upgrades and any license already expired require an in-person visit, and an expired renewal adds a $25 late fee on top of the standard cost.
- ISS shows when the DMV printed your current card, nothing more.
- ISS is not your date of birth and not your expiration date: use the ISS number specifically when a form asks for "issue date."
- A renewal resets ISS to the new print date, even under the shorter 2-year senior renewal option.
- DD (Document Discriminator) is a card serial number, not a date. Don't enter it where a form wants ISS.
Need the same field-by-field breakdown for a different state? Check our driver's license guide by state, or the California issue date guide if you're relocating from California.
Common mistakes when entering your Connecticut license issue date
- Use the ISS date whenever a form asks for "license issue date" or "date issued"
- Check whether the form wants MM/DD/YYYY or a different date format before typing
- Use the ISS date on your current card, not an older, expired one
- Renew online through CT DMV's portal if you're eligible, it's faster than an office visit
- Renew before the EXP date, an expired license adds a $25 late fee
- Ask about the 2-year senior renewal option once you turn 65 if you'd prefer the lower fee
- Don't enter your DOB when a form asks for the issue date, they're unrelated fields
- Don't enter your EXP date as the issue date, expiration marks the end, not the start
- Don't assume the 6-year cycle applies automatically after 65, the shorter option only applies if you choose it
- Don't enter the DD number as a date, it's a card serial number
- Don't let your license lapse if you can renew online early, the late fee is avoidable
- Don't guess the date if your card is hard to read, order a replacement instead
