Buick Centurion License Plate Bulb Size

The Buick Centurion license plate light requires 97 or 194 bulb sizes depending on the specific version of the vehicle. Data for the lighting components covers the period from 1971 to 1973.

The year-by-year compatibility chart below provides a quick reference to verify the correct bulb size for your vehicle.

Bulb Size by Year Range

Years	Bulb Size
1972-1973	194
1971	97

Bulb Specifications

Description	Bulb Size
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Miniature wedge bulb (T10). 12V, 3.78W.	194
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Single-filament bulb with BA15s bayonet base. Variant of 1156. 12V, 13W.	97

Other Locations

Additional Notes

The 194 bulb is the most frequently specified size for the Buick Centurion's license plate position, appearing across the 1972-1973 model years.
The 194 is a T10 miniature wedge bulb rated at 12 volts and 3.78 watts, conforming to ANSI standards recognized in both the United States and Canada.
The wedge base of the 194 bulb requires no separate metal base, as the glass envelope itself forms the contact points that secure it within the socket.
The 1971 Buick Centurion uses a 97 bulb for the license plate position, which differs in both base type and wattage from the 194 used in later model years.
The 97 bulb uses a BA15s single-contact bayonet base, a twist-and-lock fitting that is physically incompatible with the wedge socket required by the 194.
At 13 watts, the 97 bulb draws considerably more power than the 3.78-watt 194, meaning the two bulbs are not electrically interchangeable despite both operating on 12-volt systems.
The 97 bulb is noted as a variant of the 1156, sharing its single-filament design and bayonet base family, though it differs in wattage output from the standard 1156 specification.
Both the 194 and 97 bulbs carry ANSI designations, indicating standardized ratings for voltage, wattage, and base type across North American automotive applications.