Subaru Forester License Plate Bulb Size

The Subaru Forester license plate illumination utilizes 12961 and 168 bulb sizes for the exterior lighting components located at the rear of the vehicle. Provided information covers the span from 1998 through 2024 for the specified automotive lighting application.

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
2023-2024	12961
2017-2020	12961
1998-2016	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

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Additional Notes

The Subaru Forester license plate bulb specifications cover model years 1998 through 2024, with two distinct bulb types appearing across that span: the 168 and the 12961.
The 168 bulb is the fitment for the Subaru Forester across model years 1998-2016, representing the longer portion of the covered range.
The 12961 bulb applies to model years 2017-2020 and 2023-2024.
Both the 168 and the 12961 are T10 miniature wedge bulbs, meaning they share the same physical wedge-style base form factor used in small automotive lighting applications.
Despite sharing the T10 form factor, the two bulbs are not defined under the same standard. The 168 is an ANSI standard designation recognized in the US and Canada, while the 12961 is a Philips manufacturer part number.
The 12961 carries a W2.1x9.5d base designation, which is the metric IEC specification for the standard T10 wedge base, confirming its physical compatibility within that bulb family.
The two bulbs operate at the same voltage of 12V but differ slightly in wattage. The 168 is rated at 4.9W, while the 12961 is rated at 5W.
Because the 168 and 12961 are both T10 wedge bulbs at 12V with nearly identical wattage, the physical base of one may fit the socket of the other, though the specifications list them as separate fitments for their respective model years.