Kia Rio License Plate Bulb Size

The Kia Rio license plate light uses 12961 and 168 bulb sizes for the exterior illumination components located at the rear of the vehicle. Available data for the specific lighting requirements spans from 2001 through 2023 for the various configurations listed.

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
2019-2020	12961
2006-2011	168
2001-2002	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

Two bulb types appear across the Kia Rio license plate bulb specifications: the 12961 and the 168. Both are T10 miniature wedge bulbs operating at 12 volts, making them physically similar in form factor despite carrying different part designations.
The 12961 is a Philips-assigned part number rather than an ANSI industry standard designation. It specifies a W2.1x9.5d base and a 5W output.
The 168 is an ANSI-standardized bulb recognized across the United States and Canada. It carries a rated output of 4.9W, which is marginally lower than the 12961.
Although both bulbs share the T10 wedge form factor, the 12961 carries an explicit W2.1x9.5d base specification, while the 168 is defined under a broader ANSI standard. Substituting one for the other without confirming base compatibility is inadvisable.
The Kia Rio (2001-2002) and (2006-2011) model years use the 168 bulb for the license plate position.
The Kia Rio (2019-2020) and 2023 model years use the 12961 bulb for the license plate position.
The shift from the 168 to the 12961 designation reflects a change in the specified bulb standard between the earlier and later Rio generations, with the newer models referencing a Philips-specific part number rather than the ANSI designation used previously.