Tennessee Driver's License Issue Date: Where to Find ISS and What It Means
The issue date on a Tennessee driver's license is labeled ISS and appears on the front of the card. Tennessee licenses are valid for 8 years for most adults, making it one of the longer validity periods in the country. Here is where to find ISS and what every date field on your Tennessee license means.
Where to find the issue date on a Tennessee driver's license
On the current Tennessee Department of Safety license design, the issue date is labeled ISS and printed on the front of the card. ISS stands for Issue Date and shows when the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security issued your current card. Renewing resets the ISS date while your license number stays the same.
Date fields on a Tennessee driver's license
- ISS — Issue date. When your current card was printed.
- DOB — Date of birth. Your birthdate for identity and age verification.
- EXP — Expiration date. Tennessee licenses are valid for 8 years for drivers ages 21 to 59. Drivers 60 and older receive licenses valid for 4 years.
With an 8-year validity, the ISS and EXP dates on your card can be far apart. When filling out a form that asks for your issue date, use the date next to ISS, not EXP.
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What does DD mean on a Tennessee driver's license?
DD stands for Document Discriminator, a unique serial number for each physical card. It changes every time a new card is issued and is different from your license number. Banks, rental agencies, and background check systems use it to verify card authenticity.
Restrictions on a Tennessee driver's license
Tennessee licenses display restrictions in the RSTR field. Common restriction codes:
- A — Corrective lenses required
- B — Daylight driving only
- C — No freeway or expressway driving
- E — Automatic transmission only
Tennessee REAL ID
Tennessee offers both standard and REAL ID-compliant licenses. A REAL ID Tennessee license has a gold star in the upper right corner. From May 7, 2025, a REAL ID or another accepted federal document is required for domestic air travel. To get a Tennessee REAL ID, visit a Tennessee Driver Services Center in person with proof of identity, Social Security number, and two documents showing your Tennessee address.
How to renew a Tennessee driver's license
Tennessee offers online renewal at tn.gov/safety for eligible drivers. Online renewal is available if you do not need a new photo and your information has not changed. In-person renewal is required for first-time REAL ID, new photos, and address or name changes. Tennessee has Driver Services Centers across the state.
- ISS is the label for the issue date on your Tennessee license. It shows when the DOS issued your current card.
- ISS is not your date of birth (DOB) and not your expiration date (EXP) — enter the date next to ISS when a form asks for "license issue date."
- If you renewed your license, the ISS date on your current card reflects the renewal, not your original license date.
- The DD field (Document Discriminator) is a card serial number, not a date — do not enter it as an issue date.
How to find your original Tennessee licensing date
The ISS date on your card shows when your current card was issued, not your original licensing date. To find your original date, request a copy of your Tennessee driving record through the Department of Safety website or in person at a Driver Services Center.
Common mistakes when entering your Tennessee license issue date
- Use the date next to ISS when any form asks for your "license issue date" or "date issued"
- Check the date format the form expects — some want MM/DD/YYYY, others want YYYY-MM-DD
- If you have a renewed license, use the ISS date on your current card, not the date you first got a license
- Keep a photo of your license on your phone for quick reference when filling out online forms
- Renew your license before the EXP date — many employers and landlords reject a license within 60 days of expiry
- Update your address within 30 days of moving to keep your license record current
- Don't enter your DOB (date of birth) when a form asks for the issue date — they are completely different fields
- Don't enter your EXP (expiration date) as the issue date — expiration is when the license ends, not when it was issued
- Don't use the issue date from an old expired license if you have a current one
- Don't enter the DD (Document Discriminator) number as your issue date — it's a card serial number, not a date
- Don't guess the date if you can't read your license clearly — order a replacement to avoid entering incorrect information
- Don't assume the issue date is the same as your birthday — they are unrelated
