Virginia Driver's License Issue Date: Where to Find ISS and What It Means
Virginia driver's licenses print the issue date under the label ISS, right on the front of the card next to your photo. If you're filling out a form that wants your license issue date, that's the number you're looking for. This guide walks through every date and code on a Virginia license.
Table Of Contents
- 1. Where to find the issue date on a Virginia driver's license
- 2. Date fields on a Virginia driver's license
- 3. What does DD mean on a Virginia driver's license?
- 4. Restrictions on a Virginia driver's license
- 5. Virginia REAL ID: an extra $20, and a shorter cycle after 75
- 6. How to renew a Virginia driver's license
- 7. How to find your original Virginia licensing date
- 8. Common mistakes when entering your Virginia license issue date
Where to find the issue date on a Virginia driver's license
The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) prints ISS on the front of every current-design license. It marks the day your card was actually produced, not the day you first got a license. Renew your Virginia license and the ISS date moves forward to match; your license number itself never changes.
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Date fields on a Virginia driver's license
A Virginia license carries three separate dates on its face:
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- ISS: Issue date. The date DMV printed and issued your current card.
- DOB: Date of birth. Used to confirm your identity and age.
- EXP: Expiration date. Standard Virginia licenses run 8 years for most adults, expiring on your birthday.
If a form asks for your "license issue date," use ISS, not DOB. The two sit close together on the card and are easy to swap by mistake when you're reading quickly.
What does DD mean on a Virginia driver's license?
Every Virginia license also carries a Document Discriminator, printed as DD. Think of it as a serial number unique to that specific card: a new number gets assigned every time DMV reissues you a card, even under the same license number. Banks, landlords, and rental counters check the DD to confirm a card hasn't been altered.
If a form separately asks for a "document number" apart from your license number, that's the DD it wants.
Restrictions on a Virginia driver's license
Virginia DMV prints restriction codes on the card when they apply; a blank restriction field means none. Virginia's published restriction lists cover commercial licenses in detail, but the exact letter codes used on standard, non-commercial Virginia licenses aren't published in a single public list the way some states' are. If your card shows a code you don't recognize, DMV customer service can explain exactly what it means for your license.
What is published clearly: driving in violation of a printed restriction is a Class 2 misdemeanor under Virginia Code § 46.2-329, carrying a fine of up to $1,000, and DMV can independently suspend your license for the violation after giving you at least 10 days' written notice.
Virginia REAL ID: an extra $20, and a shorter cycle after 75
Virginia offers both standard and REAL ID-compliant licenses. A REAL ID Virginia license carries the required federal gold star marking. From May 7, 2025, a REAL ID or another accepted federal document is required to board domestic flights and enter certain secure federal facilities.
Upgrading to REAL ID costs $20 more than a standard renewal. First-time REAL ID applicants must visit a DMV office in person; you can't get your first REAL ID through online renewal. One more wrinkle: once you turn 75, or if you're required to register as a sex offender, Virginia switches your renewal cycle from 8 years down to 5, so you'll be back at DMV more often even though the fee generally stays the same.
How to renew a Virginia driver's license
If you don't need a REAL ID and your information hasn't changed, Virginia DMV's e-renew online service lets you renew a standard 8-year license without a branch visit. In-person renewal is required for first-time REAL ID issuance, address or name changes not yet on file, and CDL transactions.
The standard renewal fee is $32 for 8 years; add $20 if you're upgrading to REAL ID. Virginia allows renewal starting up to a year before your license expires.
- ISS is the label for the issue date on your Virginia license. It shows when DMV produced your current card.
- 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 your license moves the ISS date forward to the renewal 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 Virginia licensing date
ISS only tells you when your current card was made, not when you were first licensed in Virginia. For insurance, employment, or a CDL application asking for your original licensing date, order your official driving record from Virginia DMV. The record lists your full licensing history, including your original issue date and any violations.
Common mistakes when entering your Virginia license issue date
- Use the date next to ISS whenever a form asks for your "license issue date" or "date issued"
- Double-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 older one
- Plan for the extra $20 REAL ID cost, and the in-person visit, before you go if you're upgrading
- If you're 75 or older, expect a 5-year renewal cycle instead of the usual 8
- Update your address with DMV as soon as you move, since an outdated address can block online renewal
- 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 the license runs out, not when it started
- 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 drive outside a printed restriction: it's a Class 2 misdemeanor with a fine up to $1,000
- Don't assume you can renew your first REAL ID online: that first upgrade requires an in-person visit
