Understanding Your Driving Licence Expiry Date

Staring at a form asking for your ‘licence issue date’ and feeling stuck? Between your birthday, expiry, and another date labelled ‘ISS,’ it’s common to be unsure which driving licence date to use. This quick guide will show you exactly which date the form is asking for and why, so you can get it right the first time.

1. How to Find the Expiry (EXP) and Issue (ISS) Dates on Your Licence

The answer to which date to use is printed right on your card. The Expiry Date is simply the date your licence stops being valid for driving or as an official ID. On most modern licences, as shown in the image, you’ll find it clearly labelled EXP or marked with the code 4a. This is your personal deadline for renewal.

Nearby, you’ll see the Issue Date, often labelled ISS or with the code 4b. Here’s the key: this is the date your current, physical card was printed. It is not the date you first got your licence. When a form for a job or insurance asks for your "Licence Issue Date," this is the one to use.

2. Why Your 'Issue Date' Is So Recent (And What It Really Means)

Ever get a new licence in the post and wonder why the "Issue Date" is so recent, even though you’ve been driving for years? The most common point of confusion has a simple answer: the issue date is for the card, not the driver.

That date, often labelled ISS, only tells you when that specific piece of plastic was printed and posted. It has nothing to do with your driving history. This date will reset every time you renew your licence, get a replacement for a lost one, or even update your address. It’s simply a record of when your current card was created.

The easiest way to remember this is to think of your licence like a passport. You may have been a citizen for decades, but your passport book has its own issue date from the last time it was printed. Your driving licence works the same way; its issue date doesn't reflect how long you've been a qualified driver, only how old that physical card is.

3. What to Do If Your Licence Is Expired or Expiring Soon

You can now glance at your licence and instantly understand its story—especially the most urgent date: its expiry. Instead of guessing about grace periods for renewing an expired driving licence or risking a fine, you have the clarity to act before it becomes a problem.

Treat that date not as a chore, but as a simple check-in. The safest next step is visiting your country's official licensing agency website (such as the DVLA in the UK) to begin your renewal. It’s the easiest way to protect your privilege to drive.