Porsche 911 License Plate Bulb Size

The Porsche 911 license plate light utilizes DE3423, 3893, and 1893 bulb sizes depending on the specific production period for the vehicle. Available data covers the range from 1965 through 2013.

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
1995-2013	DE3423
1980-1994	3893
1970-1979	1893
1965-1969	3893

Bulb Specifications

Description	Bulb Size
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Festoon bulb, 41mm length, end-cap contacts. 12V.	DE3423
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Dual-filament bulb with BAY15d bayonet base, specialty application. 12V.	3893
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Miniature wedge bulb (T5). 12V, 2W.	1893

Other Locations

Additional Notes

The Porsche 911 license plate bulb specifications span 1965 to 2013, with three distinct bulb types used across that period: the DE3423, the 3893, and the 1893.
The DE3423 is a festoon-style bulb with a 41mm length and end-cap contacts. It operates at 12V and conforms to ANSI standards for the US and Canadian markets. Festoon bulbs make contact at both flat ends rather than through a base socket, which is a defining characteristic of the type.
The Porsche 911 (1995-2013) uses the DE3423 festoon bulb for the license plate position across all nineteen model years in that range.
The 3893 is a 12V dual-filament bulb with a BAY15d bayonet base, classified as a specialty application type. The BAY15d base features two offset pins that lock the bulb into its socket with a twist, and the dual-filament design means the bulb contains two separate light-producing elements within a single envelope.
The 3893 bulb is specified for the Porsche 911 across two separate periods: 1965-1969 and 1980-1994. Although the same bulb size appears in both ranges, the two periods are not contiguous, with a different bulb type used in the years between them.
The 1893 is a miniature wedge bulb of the T5 type, rated at 12V and 2W. Wedge-base bulbs have no separate base component; the glass envelope itself is pinched at the bottom to form the contact points. The T5 designation refers to the tubular shape of the glass, with a width of five-eighths of an inch.
The 1893 bulb is specified for the Porsche 911 for the 1970-1979 model years, making it the only bulb type in these specifications rated at a defined wattage of 2W.
All three bulb types in these specifications conform to ANSI standards applicable to the US and Canadian markets, and all operate at 12V, consistent with standard automotive electrical systems.
The DE3423 and the 3893 are not interchangeable. They differ in base type, physical form, and contact mechanism, meaning a socket designed for one will not accept the other without modification.
The 1893 wedge base is also physically incompatible with the bayonet socket required by the 3893, and neither is compatible with the end-cap festoon socket used by the DE3423.