Tennessee Driver's License Issue Date: Where to Find ISS and What It Means
Tennessee licenses list the issue date under ISS, printed on the front of the card. That's the field you want if a form is asking when your license was issued. Below is what every code and date field on a Tennessee license means.
Where to find the issue date on a Tennessee driver's license
The Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security prints ISS on current-design cards to show when that particular card was produced, separate from when you originally got licensed. A renewal updates ISS to the new issue date while your license number carries over.
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Date fields on a Tennessee driver's license
Tennessee licenses carry three dates on the front:
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- ISS: Issue date. When your current card was produced.
- DOB: Date of birth. Confirms your identity and age.
- EXP: Expiration date. Tennessee licenses run 8 years for drivers 21 and older, but unlike most states, that 8 years counts from your issue date, not your birthday.
If a form wants your "driver's license issue date," it means ISS, not DOB. They're printed close together and easy to confuse at a glance.
What does DD mean on a Tennessee driver's license?
Tennessee also prints a Document Discriminator, labeled DD: a serial number unique to the physical card that changes with every reissue even when the license number doesn't. Banks and rental agencies use it to confirm a card's authenticity.
A "document number" request separate from your license number is asking for the DD.
Restrictions on a Tennessee driver's license
Where most states print letter codes for restrictions, Tennessee uses numbers instead. Common Tennessee restriction codes include:
- 01: Corrective lenses required
- 02: Automatic transmission only, due to a physical condition
- 03: Power steering or a steering wheel knob required
- 04: Outside rearview mirrors required
- 10: Daylight driving only
- 16: Ignition interlock device required
The Department of Safety can add a restriction whenever there's good cause, covering driving conditions, allowed vehicle types, times, or specific places. Driving outside a printed restriction is a violation that can put your license at risk.
Tennessee REAL ID: same price, but only in person
Tennessee offers both standard and REAL ID-compliant licenses at the same $28 fee; there's no REAL ID surcharge. From May 7, 2025, a REAL ID or another accepted federal document is required to board domestic flights and enter certain federal facilities. The catch: a REAL ID renewal must be done in person at a driver services center, even if you'd otherwise qualify for online renewal.
How to renew a Tennessee driver's license
Eligible drivers who don't need REAL ID for the first time can renew online through the Department of Safety's website. In-person renewal at a driver services center or county clerk's office is required for first-time REAL ID issuance and for CDL transactions.
The total standard renewal fee is $28, made up of a $26 license fee and a $2 application fee (a county clerk's office may add its own administrative fee on top). Tennessee licenses run 8 years from your issue date, not your birthday, so mark your calendar rather than counting on a birthday reminder.
- ISS is the label for the issue date on your Tennessee license. It shows when your current card was produced.
- ISS is not your date of birth (DOB) and not your expiration date (EXP): use the date next to ISS when a form asks for "license issue date."
- Renewing updates ISS to the new issue date; it doesn't reflect your original licensing date.
- The DD field (Document Discriminator) is a card serial number, not a date: never enter it as an issue date.
How to find your original Tennessee licensing date
ISS shows when your current card was produced, not when you were first licensed in Tennessee. If you need your original licensing date for insurance, employment, or a CDL application, request your official driving record from the Department of Safety & Homeland Security. It lists your complete licensing history, original issue date included.
Common mistakes when entering your Tennessee license issue date
- Use the date next to ISS whenever a form asks for your "license issue date" or "date issued"
- Check the date format a form wants: MM/DD/YYYY and YYYY-MM-DD both show up
- If your license has been renewed, use the ISS date from your current card, not an earlier one
- Remember your license expires 8 years from your issue date, not your birthday, when planning ahead
- Plan for an in-person visit if you're getting REAL ID, even if you'd normally renew online
- Ask what a numeric restriction code means if you don't recognize it; the code alone won't explain itself
- Don't enter your DOB (date of birth) when a form asks for the issue date: they're different fields
- Don't enter your EXP (expiration date) as the issue date: expiration is when it ends, not when it began
- Don't use the issue date from an old, expired license if you have a current one
- Don't enter the DD (Document Discriminator) as your issue date: it's a serial number, not a date
- Don't assume your license expires on your birthday: in Tennessee, it doesn't
- Don't drive outside a printed restriction: it can put your license at risk
