South Carolina Driver's License Issue Date: Where to Find ISS and What It Means
South Carolina cards mark the issue date with ISS, printed on the front next to your photo. If you're filling out a form that wants your license issue date, that's the field to read. This guide walks through ISS and the rest of what's printed on an SCDMV card.
Where to find the issue date on a South Carolina driver's license
SCDMV places ISS on the front of every card it issues. The date next to it is when your current card was printed, which updates with every renewal even though your license number never does. Look for it near your photo.
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Date fields on a South Carolina driver's license
You'll find three date fields on the front of a South Carolina license:
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- ISS: the print date of your current card, set by SCDMV.
- DOB: your date of birth, used to verify who you are.
- EXP: Expiration date. South Carolina licenses are valid for 8 years and expire on your birthday, whether or not the card is REAL ID compliant.
ISS is what a form means by "driver's license issue date." DOB, printed just below it, is a different field entirely, though the two sit close enough together to blur at a glance.
What does DD mean on a South Carolina driver's license?
Document Discriminator, or DD, is a card-specific serial number, different from your license number and reset every time a new card is printed. Renewing gets you a new DD even though your license number carries over. Businesses that verify ID, banks and rental car companies among them, use the DD to check a card hasn't been altered or copied.
If a form has a separate "document number" field, that's usually asking for the DD.
Restrictions on a South Carolina driver's license
SCDMV prints any restriction in the field on the front of the card, showing None when there isn't one. South Carolina'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
Driving in violation of a restriction on your South Carolina license is a traffic offense under South Carolina Code Section 56-1-170.
South Carolina REAL ID: the gold star
South Carolina offers both standard and REAL ID-compliant licenses. A REAL ID South Carolina license has a gold star in the right-hand corner of the card. From May 7, 2025, a REAL ID or another accepted federal document is required for domestic air travel, entry to secure federal buildings, and access to military installations.
A REAL ID renews on the same 8-year cycle as a standard South Carolina license; the only difference is the star and the documents you bring to get it. To get one, visit an SCDMV branch in person with proof of identity, Social Security number, and two documents showing your South Carolina address.
Renewing online, by mail, or in person
SCDMV lets eligible drivers renew online or by mail for the standard $25 fee and get their new 8-year license in the mail, without a branch visit.
How to renew a South Carolina driver's license
SCDMV offers online renewal for eligible drivers at scdmvonline.com, along with in-person renewal at any SCDMV branch. In-person renewal is required for first-time REAL ID issuance, updated photos, and CDL transactions.
- ISS labels the issue date on a South Carolina license: when SCDMV issued your current card.
- ISS is separate from DOB and EXP: for a "license issue date" field, read the number next to ISS.
- After a renewal, the ISS date reflects that renewal, not the date you were first licensed.
- DD is a card serial number, not a date: skip it when a form asks for the issue date.
How to find your original South Carolina licensing date
ISS shows when your current card was printed, not when South Carolina first licensed you. Insurance, employers, and CDL applications sometimes need that original date, in which case request your official driving record through SCDMV, either online or in person. The record lists your complete licensing history, original issue date, and any violations or suspensions.
Common mistakes when entering your South Carolina license issue date
- The date next to ISS is what belongs in any "license issue date" or "date issued" field
- Note the date format a form calls for: MM/DD/YYYY on some, YYYY-MM-DD on others
- A renewed license means you should use the current card's ISS date, not the date from your first license
- Check whether you're eligible for online or mail renewal before driving to an SCDMV branch
- Remember a REAL ID renews on the same 8-year cycle as a standard South Carolina license
- Update your address with SCDMV within 10 days of moving to keep your license record current
- Don't grab your DOB (date of birth) when the issue date is requested: the two fields aren't interchangeable
- Don't list EXP (expiration date) as the issue date: expiration marks when the card stops working, not when it started
- Don't reference an old expired license's issue date if a current card is in hand
- Don't confuse the DD (Document Discriminator) with a date: it identifies the card, not when it was issued
- Don't assume REAL ID changes your renewal cycle: it stays on the same 8-year schedule as a standard license
- Don't assume the issue date and your birthday match: EXP does, but ISS doesn't follow that pattern
