A driver’s license issue date is essential, as it lets you and the DMV know when your license was initially issued and how long it’s valid. But it’s not always easy to find. In this article, you’ll learn where and how to find your driver’s license issue date.
If you still have your first driver’s license card, take a look at it. You’ll find the issue date listed on it. This issue date refers to the exact date you first got your license. But if you’ve just renewed your license or gotten a new one, the best thing you can do is to get in touch with the DMV. They can retrieve it from their system.
Read on to learn more about finding your driver’s license issue date.
Where Is the Issue Date On My Driving License?
While the purpose is the same, the driver’s license ID in every state throughout the US doesn’t always look similar. Some may or may not feature the issue date on the card.
So, let’s find out where to find the issue date in the driver’s license in some of the US states:
1. California
In 2018, the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) launched a new driver’s license. The updated design placed the California driver’s license issue date at the bottom right corner of the card. This is also the area where you’ll find the expiration date.
2. Florida
The Florida driver’s license issue date (4a ISS) is at the bottom left of the card, but this is the issue date for the photocard.
If you want to know the original issue date, you can request your driving record from the DMV. A typical Florida driving record will include the “Original License Issued” and “Issuance History” information.
3. Texas
You won’t find the original issue date on a Texas driver’s license. What’s shown on the license card is the photocard issue date, which you’ll find in the upper right corner. Again, contact or visit your local DMV to know the original issue date of your driver’s license.
4. New York
The New York driver’s license issue date is indicated at the bottom of the card, just below the date of birth (DOB). The driver’s license in New York usually has a validity of eight years.
5. Pennsylvania
The Ohio driver’s license issue date is either at the bottom or upper right of the card. If you can’t find it, contact or visit your local DMV office and show your current license to retrieve the original issue date of your driver’s license.
6. Illinois
The Illinois driver’s license issue date location is found below the expiration date. In some instances, you might find it on the right side of the card.
7. Michigan
In Michigan, the issue date appears on the front of the driver’s license card. The date of birth, expiration date, and driver’s license or state ID number also appears on the card.
How to Find Your Driver’s License ISS Date
You might not always find your driver’s license ISS date on your card. Fortunately, you can do a few things to know the exact ISS date on a driver’s license. One of the best ways is to request your driving record from the DMV.
There are three ways you can do that:
Online
In-person and kiosks
Mail
Your driving record doesn’t only include the issue date of your license. It also contains the following information:
Information about you (e.g., name and address)
The status of your license (i.e., expired, suspended, valid, etc.)
Driver’s license number
Accident report
Traffic violations and convictions
Every state has different rules and procedures for issuing a driver’s license history. To give you a good idea, let’s find out how you can request your driving record from the DMV if you live in any of these states:
1. California
Online
After you’ve completed your request and paid for your driver’s record, you will receive a prompt to see and print your record. Make sure you have your printer ready because you only have one chance to print your record after paying the fee.
You’ll need to pay again to view your record once you’ve closed the shopping cart confirmation page.
If you haven’t done it yet, be ready to make an online account to ensure your sensitive information remains private and secure.
By Mail
You need to note that your online driver’s record isn’t an official document. If you need your official driving record or motor vehicle report (MVR), you must complete and mail an INF 1125 form. But if you’re requesting another person’s record(s), you should get the INF 70 form.
Mail your form(s) and the necessary fees to this address:
DMV Information Release Unit MS G199 PO Box 944247 Sacramento, CA 94244-2470
By Phone
Call this number to request your records: (916) 657-8098.
In-person
Going to a DMV field office is best to get your records faster. They’ll process your request during your visit, so you’ll get your record on the same day.
But if it’s for someone else’s driver’s record, the DMV field office will forward your request to their headquarters for processing. Once they approve your request, they’ll send you the record(s).
2. Florida
The specific information on the driving record will depend on the driving record you bought (i.e., 3-year or 7-year record). Regardless of which type you bought, the record will provide information about your driver’s license’s original and current issue date.
You have options on where to get your Florida driving record, including the following:
Local Florida DMV office
Tax collector office
The county clerk of courts
Private vendors
Driver license service centers
By Mail
If you purchased your (or someone else’s) driving record by mail, you’ll need to complete and sign the “Driver License Record Request” form and then mail it with the processing fee to the address below:
Bureau of Records 2900 Apalachee Parkway, MS 52 Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0575
It takes longer to receive your copy of your driving record if you mail your request—around ten business days. If you don’t want to stand in line for hours, you can choose to order a copy of your non-certified driving record through third-party vendors online. It’s easier and faster.
2. Texas
Like in other states, you can order your certified driving record in Texas online or by mail using your license plate number or name and address. The Texas Department of Public Safety doesn’t offer in-person processing of driver records at any of their locations.
Online
Using the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Online Driver Record Request System, you can order your driver record.
When ordering online, ensure you know the driver record you need and prepare the necessary information and requirements, such as your identification card number and most recent Texas driver’s license.
By Mail
Fill out the DR-1 form to order your driver record by mail. Then, mail it with the appropriate fee to this address:
Texas Department of Public Safety PO Box 149008 Austin, Texas 78714-9008
Processing usually takes around three weeks from the date of your request.
You can request someone else’s driving record if you meet certain requirements in Texas. Get in touch with the Texas Department of Public Safety to get the appropriate form for this type of transaction.
Again, where to find your driver’s license issue date? The driver’s license issuance date is at the card’s bottom. You can also find the card’s expiration date printed on the card.
3. New York
Unlike in Texas, you can get your driving record in New York. You could also order it online, by mail, or by phone.
In-person
Visit the nearest DMV office and fill out the MV-15C (Request for Driving Information) form. Ensure you have your birth certificate or driver’s license to access your record.
Online
For online requests, you can go to New York’s DMV website.
You can download the form directly from the site. This is the fastest way to get a copy of your driving record. After registering and providing the necessary information, you can immediately download it in PDF format. You have five days after your order to save and print it.
If you don’t want to register at NYS MyDMV, you can still make an online request. But you’ll have to wait around fourteen days to get your record through mail.
By Mail
If you’re not in a hurry, you can request your driving record by mail. Just fill out the NY Request for DMV Records form, the service fee, and a copy of your driver’s license.
By Phone
This option will take too much time, but it’s still worth considering. Call the DMV call center at this number: 518-486-9786.
4. Pennsylvania
In Pennsylvania, you can get a copy of your driving history online, by mail, phone, email, and in person. If you want to know the original issue date of your driver’s license, don’t request a “Basic Record.” Request a copy of your 3-year, 10-year, or full driver’s history.
Online
To get your record online, visit the PennDOT online services website. Their system requires you to log in using the following information:
Birthday
Social Security number (last four digits)
Pennsylvania driver’s license number
Credit or debit card (for fee payment)
Note: If you need a certified copy of your Pennsylvania driving record, you must submit a request to the Department of Transportation by mail or in person.
By Mail
The form you need to fill out for this purpose is Form DL-503. You can look for this form by going to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation website. It’s on the “Driver and Vehicle Services” page.
Pay attention to the Section A and Section C of the form because these are the parts you’re going to mail to the Bureau of Driver Licensing Driver Record Services.
After filling out the form, you can mail it to this address:
Bureau of Driver Licensing Driver Record Services P.O. BOX 68695 Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17106-8695
But if you want to expedite your request, you can mail it to this address:
Bureau of Driver Services, Driver Record Services 1101 S. Front Street, 3rd Floor Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17104-2516
By Phone
Suppose you’re calling from Pennsylvania; dial (800) 932-4600. But if you live outside Pennsylvania, call this number instead: (717) 412-5300.
When calling them, you need to prepare the following:
Your name
Your Pennsylvania driver’s license number
By e-mail
You can also email DVS through their online contact form. It usually takes around two business days for them to respond to your email.
In-person
You can use the “Driver and Vehicle Services” page of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation website to find the nearest office. You can search their database of locations by typing either your zip code, country, or the name of your state.
Aside from the Pennsylvania DOT, you can also find your driving record in other places, such as:
Car insurance agents
Online third-party vendors
5. Ohio
By Mail
In Ohio, the most convenient way to get a copy of your driving record is by mail. Use the BMV 1173 form. But if you’re requesting someone else’s record, you’ll need to submit the BMV 5008 form. It usually takes around fourteen to twenty-one days to process.
Note: They won’t release another person’s records without a notarized written consent form.
In-person
Of course, you could request a copy of your Ohio driving record in person. You could go to state-run “Regional Driver License Reinstatement Centers,” which can issue driver’s license abstracts. You’ll also fill out a BMV 1173 or BMV 5008 form to access your driving history like a mailed request.
Online
The Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) allows people who hold an Ohio driver’s license to view their driving records online. If you’re only going to view your (unofficial) 2-year Ohio driving record, you don’t need to pay anything.
6. Illinois
In-person
You can go to any Illinois Driver Services facility to request a copy of your driving record. Most facilities don’t require appointments. Just make sure you’ve completed the “Driving Record Abstract Request Form” and paid the service fee.
By Mail
If by mail, you’ll need to complete the same form (Driving Record Abstract Request Form). You can send your request to the following address:
Secretary of State, Driver Analysis Section 2701 S. Dirksen Pkwy. Springfield, IL 62723
Online
In 2019, Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White launched a program that gave Illinoisans a choice not to visit Driver Services facilities to secure a copy of their driving records.
Under this new program, you can print your driving record at the end of the transaction. It’s fast, easy, and accessible at all times.
This online driving record is the same certified driving record the Driver Services facilities issue to motorists.
They’ll email you a link to the PDF version of your record, which you can view for five calendar days.
You can save your record to your smartphone or computer.
7. Michigan
In-person
You can go to any Michigan Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) branch office to request your driving record. Bring any valid form of identification, such as your state identification card or driver’s license.
By Mail
To request your driving record by mail, you need to fill out a “Michigan Department of State Record Lookup Request” form, which you can get online.
Send your form, the fee, and other additional fees to this address:
Michigan Department of State Record Lookup Unit 7064 Crowner Drive Lansing, MI 48918-1502
By Fax
You also need to fill out the same form above to send your request by fax. Payment is made through a credit card (Discover, MasterCard, or Visa). Your completed form is faxed to 517-335-6169 or 517-335-6184.
Online
You can view your driving record online for up to seven days. To make sure you can still conveniently access your record at any time you want, save it to your computer or smartphone.
Note: If you never access your driving record within the seven days allotted time, you can ask for a refund.
Conclusion – Where to Find Your Drivers License Issue Date?
In most states, the front of the driver’s license usually shows the issue (ISS) date. This ISS date refers to the exact date you first got your license.
But if you’ve recently renewed your license, you can contact the DMV branch in your area to access this information.
