New Jersey Driver's License Issue Date: Where to Find ISS and What It Means
The issue date on a New Jersey driver's license is labeled ISS and appears on the front of the card. The Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) issues standard licenses valid for 4 years, and New Jersey is one of the few states that verifies identity through a point-based document system rather than a simple document list. Here is where to find ISS and what every field on your New Jersey license means.
Where to find the issue date on a New Jersey driver's license
On the current MVC license design, the issue date sits on the front of the card labeled ISS. It marks the date the MVC printed your current card, not the date you first got a New Jersey license. Renew your license and the ISS date updates to match, while your license number carries over unchanged.
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Date fields on a New Jersey driver's license
- ISS: Issue date. When your current card was printed by the MVC.
- DOB: Date of birth. Used to verify your age and identity.
- EXP: Expiration date. Standard New Jersey licenses run for 4 years from issuance.
A form asking for your "license issue date" wants the number next to ISS, not DOB. The two fields sit close together on the card, so a quick glance can mix them up.
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What does DD mean on a New Jersey driver's license?
DD is short for Document Discriminator, a serial number unique to your physical card. A new card means a new DD, even though your license number never changes. Banks and rental agencies check the DD to confirm a card hasn't been altered or duplicated.
Restrictions on a New Jersey driver's license
New Jersey lists any restrictions in the RSTR field. A blank field, or one that reads None, means you're driving without limits. The most common codes you'll see:
- A: Corrective lenses required
- B: Daylight driving only
- C: No highway or expressway driving
- E: Automatic transmission only
Ignoring a restriction on your New Jersey license is a moving violation, the same as any other traffic offense.
New Jersey REAL ID
New Jersey issues both a standard license and a REAL ID-compliant version, marked with a star in the upper right corner of the card. Since May 7, 2025, a REAL ID or another TSA-accepted document is required to board a domestic flight or enter certain federal buildings. A standard license still works for driving and everyday ID, it just won't get you past TSA.
Getting a REAL ID requires an in-person visit to an MVC agency with your 6 Points of ID, proof of your Social Security number, and two documents showing your New Jersey address.
The 6 Points of ID system
Most states ask for a short list of acceptable documents. New Jersey instead assigns a point value to each document type and requires your combined total to reach 6 points, with at least one Primary document (a U.S. birth certificate or passport, for example) and one Secondary document. A photocopy doesn't count; the MVC wants originals. Show up one point short and the transaction stops there, no exceptions at the counter.
How to renew a New Jersey driver's license
Eligible drivers can renew online through the MVC's license renewal page. First-time REAL ID upgrades, address changes, and anyone flagged for a new photo need to renew in person at an MVC agency instead.
The standard renewal fee is $24 for a 4-year license. The MVC allows renewal up to a few months before your EXP date, so there's no need to wait until the last minute.
- ISS shows when the MVC 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. Your original licensing date isn't shown anywhere on the card itself.
- DD (Document Discriminator) is a serial number for the physical card, not a date. Don't enter it where a form wants ISS.
Moving to New Jersey from another state, or just need the same breakdown for somewhere else? See our driver's license guide by state or the California issue date guide if you're transferring in from the West Coast.
Common mistakes when entering your New Jersey 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 format before typing
- Use the ISS date on your current card, not the date of an older, expired one
- Bring your full 6 Points of ID to any in-person MVC visit, photocopies won't be accepted
- Renew before your EXP date; some employers reject a license expiring within 60 days
- Update your address with the MVC within a week of moving
- 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 your original New Jersey licensing date appears anywhere on your current card
- Don't enter the DD number as a date, it's a card serial number
- Don't show up to the MVC short on points, count your documents before you leave home
- Don't bring photocopies for your 6 Points of ID, the MVC requires originals
