Mazda Protege License Plate Bulb Size

The Mazda Protege license plate light requires bulb size 168 or 89 depending on the specific version of the vehicle. Data for the bulb sizes covers the range from 1990 to 2003.

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
1995-2003	168
1993-1994	89
1992	168
1990-1991	89

Bulb Specifications

Description	Bulb Size
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Miniature wedge bulb (T10). 12V, 4.9W.	168
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Single-filament bulb with BA15s bayonet base. Lower wattage variant of 1156. 12V, 13W.	89

Other Locations

Additional Notes

The Mazda Protege uses two distinct bulb types across its license plate lighting specifications: the 168 and the 89, both of which conform to ANSI standards recognized in the United States and Canada.
The 168 bulb is a T10 miniature wedge type rated at 12V and 4.9W. Its wedge base design means it is held in place by the socket itself rather than by a locking mechanism such as a bayonet collar.
The 89 bulb is a single-filament type mounted on a BA15s bayonet base, rated at 12V and 13W. The BA15s designation indicates a single-contact bayonet fitting with a 15mm base width.
At 13W, the 89 draws considerably more power than the 4.9W 168, reflecting a fundamental electrical difference between the two bulb families rather than a minor variation.
The 89 is described as a lower wattage variant of the 1156. Both share the BA15s bayonet base, but the 1156 operates at a higher wattage, making the two non-equivalent as direct replacements for one another despite their physical similarity.
The Mazda Protege (1995-2003) uses the 168 bulb exclusively across that nine-year span for its license plate position.
The 89 bulb appears in the 1990-1991 and 1993-1994 model years, while 1992 specifies the 168, indicating that the two bulb types are not interchangeable across all Protege model years.
Because the 168 and 89 differ in both base type and wattage, a socket designed for one will not accept the other without modification, making year-specific fitment verification necessary before substitution.