Buick LeSabre License Plate Bulb Size

The Buick LeSabre license plate light uses bulb sizes 161, 194, 168, 97, 1155, and 67. Available data for the lighting components spans the range from 1959 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
2000-2005	161
1991-1999	194
1983-1987	194
1982	168
1972-1981	194
1965-1971	97
1964	1155
1959-1963	67

Bulb Specifications

Description	Bulb Size
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Miniature wedge bulb (T10). 12V, 1W.	161
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Miniature wedge bulb (T10). 12V, 3.78W.	194
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Miniature wedge bulb (T10). 12V, 4.9W.	168
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Single-filament bulb with BA15s bayonet base. Variant of 1156. 12V, 13W.	97
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Single-filament bulb with BA15s bayonet base. Variant of 1156. 12V, 21W.	1155
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Single-filament bulb with BA15s bayonet base. Lower wattage variant of 1156. 12V, 8W.	67

Other Locations

Additional Notes

The bulb types specified across the Buick LeSabre license plate position fall into two distinct base categories: the T10 miniature wedge base, used by the 161, 194, and 168 bulbs, and the BA15s bayonet base, used by the 97, 1155, and 67 bulbs. These two base types are physically incompatible with each other, meaning a bulb from one category cannot be installed in a socket designed for the other.
The 194 bulb is the most frequently specified type across the LeSabre's history, covering model years 1972-1987 and 1991-1999. It is an ANSI-standard T10 miniature wedge bulb rated at 12V and 3.78W.
The 161 bulb, specified for the 2000-2005 Buick LeSabre, shares the same T10 miniature wedge base as the 194 but operates at a significantly lower wattage of 1W compared to the 194's 3.78W. Despite the shared base form, the wattage difference is a relevant electrical consideration.
The 168 bulb, specified solely for the 1982 model year, is also a T10 miniature wedge type rated at 12V and 4.9W, making it the highest-wattage T10 wedge bulb among those listed in these specifications.
The 97 bulb, specified for the 1965-1971 model years, uses a BA15s single-contact bayonet base and is rated at 12V and 13W. It is classified as a variant of the 1156 bulb family.
The 1155 bulb, specified exclusively for the 1964 model year, also uses a BA15s bayonet base and is rated at 12V and 21W, the highest wattage of any bulb listed in these specifications. It is likewise a variant of the 1156 family.
The 67 bulb, specified for the 1959-1963 model years, uses the same BA15s bayonet base as the 97 and 1155 but operates at a lower 8W. Although all three share the BA15s base, their differing wattage ratings reflect distinct electrical characteristics within the same base family.
Within the BA15s bayonet group, the 67, 97, and 1155 bulbs are all described as variants of the 1156 and share physical base compatibility, but their wattage values of 8W, 13W, and 21W respectively indicate they are not direct electrical equivalents of one another.
All bulb types listed in these specifications conform to ANSI standards applicable in both the United States and Canada, and all are rated for 12V electrical systems.
The 1982 Buick LeSabre is the only model year in these specifications to use the 168 bulb for the license plate position, distinguishing it from the surrounding years that specify the 194.