Mitsubishi Galant License Plate Bulb Size

The Mitsubishi Galant license plate light utilizes unique bulb sizes 12961, 168, and 257 for various production versions. Available data covers the specific range from 1985 through 2012.

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
2010-2012	12961
1988-2009	168
1985-1987	257

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
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Festoon or BA9s base instrument bulb. 12V, 2W.	257

Other Locations

Additional Notes

The Mitsubishi Galant license plate bulb specifications cover model years 1985 through 2012, with three distinct bulb sizes used across that span.
The 168 is the most widely used bulb in these specifications, fitted to the Galant across 1988 through 2009. It is an ANSI-standard miniature wedge bulb in the T10 form factor, rated at 12V and 4.9W.
The 12961 is a Philips part number for a T10 miniature wedge bulb with a W2.1x9.5d base, rated at 12V and 5W. The Mitsubishi Galant (2010-2012) uses this bulb for the license plate position.
Although the 168 and 12961 share the T10 wedge form factor, their wattage ratings differ slightly at 4.9W and 5W respectively, and the 12961 carries a manufacturer-specific part number rather than an ANSI designation.
The 257 is an ANSI-standard bulb rated at 12V and 2W, and it is specified for the 1985-1987 Galant license plate position. Its significantly lower wattage distinguishes it from the other two bulb types in these specifications.
The 257 bulb uses either a festoon or BA9s base, which is a physically different mounting style from the wedge base found on the 168 and 12961. This makes the 257 non-interchangeable with the bulbs used in later Galant model years.
The W2.1x9.5d base designation on the 12961 refers to a specific wedge pin configuration standardized under IEC and UNECE regulations, commonly found in European-market vehicle lighting components.
The BA9s base type associated with the 257 is a single-contact bayonet cap with a 9mm collar, a format widely used in instrument and auxiliary lighting applications across various vehicle manufacturers.