Toyota Solara License Plate Bulb Size

Additional Notes

• The Toyota Solara uses two distinct bulb sizes for the license plate position across its model years: the 168 and the 194, both of which are ANSI-standardized for the US and Canadian markets.
• Both the 168 and 194 bulbs share the same T10 miniature wedge base and operate on a 12-volt electrical system, making them physically interchangeable in terms of socket fitment.
• Despite sharing the same base type and voltage rating, the 168 and 194 differ in wattage. The 168 draws 4.9 watts, while the 194 draws 3.78 watts, meaning they are not electrically identical replacements for one another.
• The Toyota Solara (2002-2003) uses the 168 bulb for the license plate position.
• The 1999-2001 model years use the 194 bulb for the same position, representing a lower wattage draw compared to the later fitment.
• The T10 wedge base is a common miniature bulb format in which the glass envelope itself acts as the retention mechanism when inserted into the socket, requiring no separate locking collar or bayonet pins.
• Because the 168 and 194 share a T10 base, physical installation of either into the Solara's license plate socket is possible, but substituting one for the other introduces a wattage mismatch relative to the original specification.