Ford B-700 License Plate Bulb Size

The Ford B-700 license plate requires a 1157 bulb size for proper illumination of the rear vehicle identification area. Available data covers the span from 1980 through 1994 for the specified lighting component.

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
1980-1994	1157

Bulb Specifications

Description	Bulb Size
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Dual-filament bulb with BAY15d bayonet base. 12V, 21W/5W.	1157

Other Locations

Additional Notes

The Ford B-700 uses the 1157 bulb for its license plate position across all listed model years from 1980 to 1994.
The 1157 is a dual-filament bulb, meaning it contains two separate filaments within a single glass envelope, each rated at a different wattage.
The two filaments in the 1157 are rated at 21W and 5W respectively, operating on a 12-volt electrical system.
The 1157 uses a BAY15d bayonet base, which is an offset twin-pin mount designed to prevent incorrect insertion by positioning the two pins at different heights.
The 1157 is an ANSI-standardized bulb recognized in both the United States and Canada, meaning its physical and electrical specifications conform to a defined industry standard across those markets.
Because the 1157 is a dual-filament type, substituting it with a single-filament equivalent such as the 1156 would result in an incomplete circuit for one of the two filament functions.
The BAY15d base of the 1157 is not interchangeable with the BAY15s base found on single-filament bulbs, as the pin offset on the BAY15d is specific to dual-filament applications.