Buick Century License Plate Bulb Size

The Buick Century license plate light requires bulb size 194 or 67 depending on the specific vehicle configuration. Data for the lighting components covers the range from 1954 to 2005.

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
1997-2005	194
1973-1985	194
1954-1958	67

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. Lower wattage variant of 1156. 12V, 8W.	67

Other Locations

Additional Notes

The Buick Century uses two distinct bulb types across its license plate lighting specifications: the 194 and the 67, both of which conform to ANSI standards recognized in the United States and Canada.
The 194 is a T10 miniature wedge bulb rated at 12 volts and 3.78 watts. Its wedge base design means it is held in place by the socket itself rather than by a separate locking mechanism such as a bayonet or screw fitting.
The 67 is a single-filament bulb with a BA15s bayonet base, rated at 12 volts and 8 watts. The BA15s designation indicates a single-contact bayonet cap with a 15mm base width, a base type that is physically incompatible with the wedge sockets used by the 194.
The 67 is described as a lower wattage variant of the 1156. While the two share the same BA15s bayonet base, they are not interchangeable due to the difference in wattage and light output, which affects both electrical load and brightness.
The Buick Century (1973-1985 and 1997-2005) uses the 194 bulb for its license plate position, operating at 3.78 watts, which is notably lower than the 8 watts drawn by the 67.
The Buick Century (1954-1958) uses the 67 bulb for its license plate position. The BA15s bayonet base of the 67 is a different socket type than the wedge socket required by the 194, making the two bulbs physically non-interchangeable regardless of voltage compatibility.