Toyota Corolla License Plate Bulb Size

The Toyota Corolla license plate component utilizes unique bulb size 194, 168, and 89 options depending on the specific vehicle configuration. Available data covers the range from 1968 through 2024.

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	194
2003-2016	168
1998-2002	194
1993-1997	168
1992	194
1987	89 (With Halogen Capsule Headlamps)
1968-1986	89

Bulb Specifications

Description	Bulb Size
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Miniature wedge bulb (T10). 12V, 3.78W.	194
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 Toyota Corolla license plate position uses three distinct bulb sizes across its model history: the 194, 168, and 89.
The 168 and 194 are both T10 miniature wedge bulbs operating at 12V, though they differ in wattage. The 168 draws 4.9W while the 194 draws 3.78W, making them physically similar but not electrically identical.
Because the 168 and 194 share the T10 wedge form factor, there is a risk of incorrect substitution between the two. The wattage difference means one is not a direct replacement for the other without accounting for the electrical variance.
The 89 bulb is a fundamentally different construction from the T10 wedge types. It uses a BA15s bayonet base and a single-filament design, operating at 12V and 13W, which is substantially higher wattage than either the 168 or 194.
The 89 bulb is described as a lower wattage variant of the 1156. This means the 1156 and 89 share the BA15s bayonet base but are not interchangeable due to their wattage difference.
The Toyota Corolla (1968-1986) uses the 89 bulb for the license plate position across that span of model years.
The 1987 Toyota Corolla also uses the 89 bulb, though the specification notes this applies to vehicles equipped with halogen capsule headlamps, indicating a conditional fitment for that year.
The Toyota Corolla (2023-2024) uses the 194 bulb, while the 2003-2016 model years use the 168, representing a bulb type change between those production periods.
All three bulb sizes listed in the specifications conform to ANSI standards applicable in both the United States and Canada.
The 1992 and 1998-2002 model years use the 194 bulb, while the surrounding years in those ranges use the 168, indicating the Toyota Corolla has alternated between these two T10 wedge types at multiple points in its production history.