What Is the California Driver’s License Issue Date?
A California driver’s license contains essential information. However, one data is unclear to many CA driver’s license holders – the issue date. What is the California driver’s license issue date?
In California, the license issue date states when the DMV issued the current license. It’s not when you were given your first driver’s license. You will also see an ISS date on the license. It is an abbreviation for the word “issued.”
If you look at a California driver’s license, you can find this issue date on the card’s front face at the lower right corner. The date is nearly at the bottom-right edge of the license card. It follows the MM/DD/YY format.
Read on to learn more about the California driver’s license issue date and where you can locate it on the license card.
What Is the California Driver’s License Issue Date?
The issue date of a California driver’s license states the date of issuance of the current license. It is not the date when the driver’s license was first issued. You will also see the letters “ISS” on the card. It is short for “issued,” which means it is also the issue date of the license.
The issue date indicated on the license card is the day you got it from the California DMV. This date is important because it shows how long the license holder can use it.
In California, a non-commercial driver’s license is good for five years. The validity of CDLs or commercial driver’s licenses only lasts two years.
This issue date is crucial because it is the date that tells you when you should renew it. A person from another state planning to move to California who holds a driver’s license can also renew their out-of-state license in CA if their license is still valid.
The issue date on your driver’s license can sometimes be convenient. You can use it to verify your identity. For instance, if an organization or business entity requires authentication of your person, you can provide them with your driver’s license issue date.
You will find this issue date on the front face of the license, at the lower-right bottom corner of the card. The license follows the format of MM/DD/YY.
What Is the Importance of the Driver’s License Issue Date?
The issue date of a California driver’s license is essential because it indicates the period or length of the license’s validity. In other words, it indicates the expiration date of the license. The deadline means the license should be renewed before this date lapses.
If you hold a California driver’s license, you can use its issue date to your advantage. There are several benefits you can derive from this issue date. For instance, you can get discounts on insurance rates when buying insurance coverage for your car or property.
So, being aware of the issuance date of your license will bring you some benefits. Knowing when your license will expire is important, but knowing that you can also use it for other practical matters is great.
Does the Issue Date of a Driver’s License Change?
Since it is based on the date that the license was issued, it will change at the date and time that it is renewed. All driver’s licenses in California as well as the other states in the US, have their respective validity periods.
As such, each time a license holder renews their license, the issue date will be updated or changed to the current date and time the license was renewed. So, driver’s license issue dates have to be changed periodically.
Additionally, if you lost your original license and applied for a new card, the issue date indicated on the new license will be when you received the new card. The same thing goes if your personal information changes, and you will ask for an updated license.
Where Can I Find the California Driver’s License Issue Date?
Printed on the Card
Since there’s not much information about the issue date of a driver’s license, many are wondering where they can find it on the card. Perhaps you are one of these people. Is it on the license card itself? Yes, it is.
MM/DD/YY Format
If you have a California driver’s license, look at it. The issue date is on the card’s front face, specifically in the lower-right corner. It’s nearly at the bottom-right edge of the card. This date follows the format of MM/DD/YY.
How to Find the Licence’s Issue Date If the Card Is Lost?
For example, if the issue date of your license is 05/06/2022, it was issued on May 6, 2022. However, you may forget this issue date if you lose your license. So, is there still a way you can find your license’s issue date?
Yes, there is a way. You can go to the field office of your local DMV office and request them to give you the current issue date of your driver’s license. Alternatively, if you lost your license or someone stole it, you can apply for a duplicate of your license online with the DMV.
Indicates the Validity Period of the License
In a California driver’s license, you will also see the letters “ISS” with a set of numbers under them. This is just a shortened version of the word “issued.” It is the Issue Date of the driver’s license. So the ISS mark is nothing but the current issue date of the driver’s license.
This date indicates the validity period of the license. So, if the issue date of a license is 05/06/2022, and the validity of the license, if it is a non-commercial license, is five years, then you should renew it on or before May 6, 2026.
That’s how important the issue date is. If you forget or neglect to renew the license before this date, you will pay a penalty charge if you still want to renew it after.
Let’s say you have moved from another state to California; if you apply for a California driver’s license, the issue date that the CA DMV will indicate on the card will be the date on your out-of-state license.
Again, what is the California driver’s license issue date? Check the lower right corner of your California driver’s license for the issue date (MM/DD/YYYY).
How Long Are CA Licenses Good For?
Section 12816 (a) of the California Vehicle Code says that driver’s licenses in the state are good for five years. The expiration date of a driver’s license is the driver’s birthday. However, there are cases where the expiration date can be shorter.
The expiry date of a California driver’s license is very clearly stated on the license. It is located at the left-hand side of the front face of the license card, near the top left corner.
Is It Possible to Change California Driver’s License Issue Date?
The issue date is when the California Department of Motor Vehicle gave you the driver’s license. You cannot change this date because it is the factual record of the date you received the item and the time you started using it.
You can’t change this information since it is an actual record of when you got the license. It also indicates how long you have been getting your driver’s license. You must apply for a new driver’s license to change this date.
Let’s say your personal information has already changed since they gave you your original driver’s license. So, you need to change your marital status or your physical address. In this case, you must contact the CA DMV, supply them with your current information, and then let the ball roll.
The DMV in California will process your application for an updated license. After a given date, you will receive your new driver’s license with all the requested updated information. It may retain the issue date indicated in your outdated driver’s license.
Does the Issue Date Indicate the First Time You Got the License?
No, it does not. The issue date exclusively designates the latest date that the CA DMV gave you the driver’s license. To know when the DMV released your first driver’s license, you need to go to the local DMV office and ask them for this information.
Is There an Expiration Date on California ID?
As I mentioned in this article, a CA driver’s license expires five years after its date. Additionally, if you are a CA driver’s license holder, you need to renew it on or before your birthday.
You should renew your license six months before it lapses for safety reasons. Follow this recommendation if you are in the habit of forgetting important dates. When renewing your driver’s license, the DMV will ask you to supply them with the following:
Proof of your identity
Current information about your residence address
Your birth date
Your previous driver’s license
They may ask you to undergo a vision test
You must renew your driver’s license. If you don’t renew it for two years, they will ask you to retake the written driving exam and undergo a driving test to reinstate your license.
Driving with an expired license is also illegal in California and all the other states in the US. They will fine you $1,000 or six months in jail if they catch pay. They may also impound your vehicle for 30 days.
Can I Apply for a New License Online?
Some people have done this because it is more convenient than personally doing it at the local DMV office. However, there are some requirements that you need to satisfy if you want to do it online:
Your CA driver’s license
Your license expires within 60 days
There are no negative marks on your driving record
You don’t have any misdemeanors
Your license is not suspended
There was no change in your address the last time you renewed your license
Your age is below 70
You are not under probation
In Closing
The issue date of a California driver’s license indicates when the DMV issued the current license. It’s not the exact date when the license was first issued. It is also characterized by the letter “ISS,” which is just a short of the word “issued.”
By looking at a California driver’s license, you will see the issue date on the card’s front face, specifically at the lower right corner, almost at the bottom-right edge of the card. It is written in the format of MM/DD/YY.
