Louisiana Driver's License Issue Date: Where to Find ISS and What It Means
Louisiana prints the issue date on the front of a driver's license under the label ISS. That's the date the Office of Motor Vehicles produced the card in your wallet right now, and it's what most forms mean by "date issued."
Where to find the issue date on a Louisiana driver's license
The Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV) puts ISS on the front of every current-design card. It tracks when your current card was printed, not when you first became a licensed driver in Louisiana. Renew, and ISS moves forward; your license number doesn't.
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Date fields on a Louisiana driver's license
Three dates print on the front:
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- ISS: Issue date. When OMV printed your current card.
- DOB: Date of birth. For identity and age verification.
- EXP: Expiration date. Louisiana's Class E license runs a 6-year cycle for most adults.
A form asking for your license's "issue date" wants ISS. One asking for "date of birth" wants DOB. They're printed near each other, so read the label before filling anything in.
What does DD mean on a Louisiana driver's license?
DD is short for Document Discriminator, a serial number tied to this specific physical card. It changes with every new card, independent of your license number. Rental counters and banks reference it to confirm the card in front of them hasn't been altered.
If something asks for a "document number" that isn't your license number, that's DD.
Restrictions on a Louisiana driver's license
OMV notes any restrictions directly on the card; a blank field means none apply. Common examples are a corrective-lenses requirement or a daylight-driving-only limit. Read the restriction as printed on your own card rather than assuming it matches another state's exact code list.
Driving outside a restriction shown on your Louisiana license can result in a citation.
Louisiana REAL ID: the gold star
Louisiana offers both REAL ID and standard licenses. The REAL ID version has a star; since May 7, 2025, that star (or another accepted federal document) is required for domestic flights and entry to certain federal facilities. A standard Louisiana license without the star still works for driving and most everyday ID checks. Getting a REAL ID for the first time is always an in-person transaction under federal law: it's not available through online renewal.
Louisiana's late fee and the 70-and-older renewal rule
Let a Louisiana license sit expired for more than 10 days and OMV adds a $15 late fee on top of the standard renewal charge. Separately, most Louisiana drivers can renew through ExpressLane online, but drivers 70 and older must renew in person rather than online, one of the few age-based renewal restrictions left among states that otherwise let seniors renew electronically.
How to renew a Louisiana driver's license
Eligible drivers can renew online through ExpressLane at expresslane.la.gov, with the new card mailed out. In-person renewal at an OMV office is required for a first-time REAL ID, drivers 70 and older, and CDL transactions. You can renew up to 180 days before your license expires.
- ISS shows when OMV printed the card you're holding, nothing more.
- It isn't your DOB and isn't your EXP: check the printed label before entering a date on any form.
- A renewal resets ISS to the new print date. Your license number stays the same.
- DD identifies the physical card. It's never the right entry for an "issue date" field.
Finding your original Louisiana licensing date
ISS only covers your current card, not when you first got licensed in Louisiana. For insurance, employment, or a CDL application, request your official driving record from OMV. It lists your full licensing history, including your original issue date.
Common mistakes with a Louisiana license issue date
- Enter the date next to ISS whenever a form asks for "license issue date" or "date issued"
- Check which date format a form expects before typing: MM/DD/YYYY and YYYY-MM-DD both appear
- Use your current card's ISS if you've renewed, not the date of your original license
- Renew before your license expires for more than 10 days to avoid the $15 late fee
- Plan for an in-person visit if you're 70 or older; ExpressLane online renewal doesn't apply to you
- Update your address with OMV soon after a move
- Don't confuse DOB with ISS. They're printed close together but track different things
- Don't enter your EXP date when a form wants the issue date
- Don't use an old, expired license's ISS if you're holding a current one
- Don't enter the DD serial number anywhere that wants a date
- Don't let your license sit expired past 10 days if you can avoid it: the late fee is $15
- Don't assume ISS matches your birthday. It doesn't, even though EXP typically does
