Kia Forte License Plate Bulb Size

The Kia Forte license plate light requires bulb sizes 12961 and 168 for proper illumination. Provided data covers a span of time starting in 2010 and ending in 2023.

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
2023	12961
2021	12961
2010-2018	168

Bulb Specifications

Description	Bulb Size
Philips part number. Miniature wedge bulb (T10) with W2.1x9.5d base. 12V, 5W.	12961
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Miniature wedge bulb (T10). 12V, 4.9W.	168

Other Locations

Additional Notes

The 168 bulb is an ANSI-standardized miniature wedge type operating at 12V and 4.9W, and it serves as the license plate bulb for the Kia Forte across the 2010-2018 model years.
The 12961 is a Philips part number designation for a miniature wedge bulb sharing the same T10 form factor as the 168, but it carries a W2.1x9.5d base rating and operates at 12V and 5W.
The T10 designation refers to a tubular bulb body approximately 10 millimeters wide, a common format used in low-wattage automotive auxiliary lighting positions such as license plate lamps.
The 2021 and 2023 Kia Forte use the 12961 bulb for the license plate position, while the 2010-2018 model years use the 168.
Although both the 168 and 12961 share the T10 wedge form factor, they are not confirmed interchangeable across all Forte model years, as the specifications assign each bulb to distinct year groups.
The W2.1x9.5d base notation on the 12961 describes a wedge-type base with a 2.1mm wire width and a 9.5mm insertion depth, which defines the physical interface between the bulb and its socket.
The 0.1W difference between the 168 at 4.9W and the 12961 at 5W is negligible in practical terms, though the two bulbs remain separately specified across different Forte generations.