North Dakota Driver's License Issue Date: Where to Find ISS and What It Means
ISS marks the issue date on a North Dakota driver's license, printed on the front near your photo. That's the field a form is really asking for when it wants your license issue date. This guide covers ISS and the rest of what's printed on the card.
Where to find the issue date on a North Dakota driver's license
The North Dakota Department of Transportation prints ISS on the front of every license it issues, showing when your current card was made. Renewing gives you a new card with an updated ISS, while your license number itself doesn't change.
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Date fields on a North Dakota driver's license
North Dakota cards carry three date fields on the front:
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- ISS: the date NDDOT printed your current card.
- DOB: your date of birth, used for identity purposes.
- EXP: Expiration date. North Dakota driver's licenses are valid for 6 years for most adult drivers and expire on your birthday in the final year of the term.
A form that asks for your "driver's license issue date" is asking about ISS, not DOB, even though the two fields sit close together on the card and are easy to confuse in a hurry.
What does DD mean on a North Dakota driver's license?
Document Discriminator, abbreviated DD, is a serial number for the physical card itself. It resets with every new card, even when nothing else about your license changes. Financial institutions and rental agencies use it as a check against altered or duplicated cards.
If you see a "document number" field distinct from your license number, that's the DD.
Restrictions on a North Dakota driver's license
NDDOT prints any restriction in the field on the front of the card, or None when there isn't one. North Dakota's common restriction codes:
- B: Corrective lenses required while driving
- C: Mechanical devices, hand controls, or other adaptive equipment required
- D: Prosthetic aid required
- G: Daylight driving only
- K: CDL restricted to intrastate driving only
Driving in violation of a restriction on your North Dakota license is a traffic offense.
North Dakota REAL ID: the gold star
North Dakota offers both standard and REAL ID-compliant licenses. To check whether yours qualifies, look for a small star inside a gold circle in the upper right corner of the card. From May 7, 2025, a REAL ID or another accepted federal document is required to board domestic flights and enter certain federal facilities. If your card doesn't have the star, you can apply for a REAL ID-compliant license or ID in person at an NDDOT Driver License office. You'll need documents from each of the four REAL ID document categories: identity, date of birth, Social Security number, and North Dakota residency.
How to renew a North Dakota driver's license
NDDOT offers online renewal for eligible drivers through its online services portal, and you can renew up to 10 months before your license expires. If your license has already expired, North Dakota still allows renewal without retesting for up to one year past the expiration date. In-person renewal is required for first-time REAL ID issuance, updated photos, and CDL transactions.
The standard non-commercial renewal fee is $15, one of the lowest in the country.
- ISS labels the issue date on a North Dakota license: when NDDOT issued your current card.
- ISS is not DOB and not EXP: a form wanting "license issue date" wants the number next to ISS.
- Your ISS date changes with each renewal, showing the renewal date rather than your original license date.
- DD is a card-specific serial number, not a date: keep it out of any issue-date field.
How to find your original North Dakota licensing date
ISS only tells you when your current card was printed, not your original North Dakota licensing date. If insurance, employment, or a CDL application needs that earlier date, request your official driving record through NDDOT, online or in person. The record covers your complete licensing history, original issue date, and any violations or suspensions.
Common mistakes when entering your North Dakota license issue date
- Enter the ISS date whenever a form asks for "license issue date" or "date issued"
- Confirm the date format first: MM/DD/YYYY is common, but some forms want YYYY-MM-DD
- Once you've renewed, your current card's ISS date is the one to use, not your original license date
- Renew up to 10 months early through NDDOT's online portal if your schedule is tight
- Renew within a year of expiration if you missed the deadline; North Dakota waives retesting in that window
- Update your address with NDDOT promptly after moving to keep your license record current
- Don't mix up DOB (date of birth) with the issue date: forms treat them as separate fields
- Don't submit EXP (expiration date) as though it were the issue date: one ends the license, the other starts it
- Don't rely on an old expired license's issue date once you have a new card
- Don't mistake the DD (Document Discriminator) code for a date: it's a serial number for the physical card
- Don't assume the standard term is 4 years: North Dakota's standard renewal cycle is 6 years
- Don't assume the issue date shares your birthday: EXP does, ISS doesn't
