Florida Driver's License Issue Date
Your Florida driver's license issue date is labeled "ISS" on the front of the card — printed in the lower-center section, right below your name, address and "SAFE DRIVER" status (when present). On a sample Florida Class E license you will see ISS DD/MM/YYYY; that is the day the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles printed your current card.
"ISS" is short for "Issue Date" — the day the current physical card was printed. It is not the day you first became a licensed driver in Florida.
What does "DD" mean on a Florida license?
DD is the Document Discriminator — a unique serial number for that specific piece of plastic. Florida DHSMV reissues it every time you replace or renew the card; your DLN (driver license number) does not change.
Preparing for your DMV test?
Download our free iOS app — 1,164+ practice questions in 11 languages, flashcards, and offline study!
What about the other labels on a Florida license?
The most common ones are:
- DLN — your permanent Driver License Number (the A-prefixed 13-digit code at the top)
- DOB — date of birth
- EXP — expiration date
- REST — Restrictions (corrective lenses, daylight only, etc.)
- END — Endorsements, mostly for commercial drivers
- SAFE DRIVER — printed in red when you have a clean record
The "original issue date" trap on Florida licenses
This is the question most Florida drivers actually search for: "When was I first licensed in Florida?" The painful truth is that your original issue date is not printed on your renewed card. Every time you renew, the ISS field resets to the date that latest card was printed.
This trips people up constantly when:
- Applying for car insurance discounts that reward years-licensed
- Proving driving history for an employer
- Filing for a commercial license or rideshare driver application
To recover your original Florida issue date, order a complete (lifetime) driver record from the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. A 3-year or 7-year record will not be enough if you have been driving longer than that.
How long is a Florida driver's license valid?
A Florida Class E driver license is valid for 8 years for drivers between 18 and 79, and 6 years for drivers 80 and older (vision tested at every renewal).
Need an older issue date?
Order your complete driving record from the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles at https://www.flhsmv.gov/driver-licenses-id-cards/motor-vehicle-records/.
For a visual tour of every state's driver license design, see our full guide.
