Toyota Tercel License Plate Bulb Size

The Toyota Tercel license plate light uses bulb sizes 168 and 89 for the rear illumination system. Data for the specified vehicle covers the range from 1980 through 1998.

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
1991-1998	168
1988-1990	89
1980-1986	89

Bulb Specifications

Description	Bulb Size
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

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Additional Notes

The Toyota Tercel uses two distinct bulb types for the license plate position across its production span: the 168 and the 89, both of which are ANSI-standardized for the US and Canadian markets.
The 168 bulb is a T10 miniature wedge type rated at 12V and 4.9W. Its wedge base means it is held in place by the socket itself rather than by a locking mechanism, which is a common trait of low-wattage indicator and illumination bulbs.
The 89 bulb uses a BA15s single-contact bayonet base and is rated at 12V and 13W, making it significantly higher in wattage than the 168. It is classified as a lower-wattage variant of the 1156 bulb family and shares the same base type, though it is not interchangeable with the 1156 due to the wattage difference.
The Toyota Tercel (1991-1998) uses the 168 bulb for the license plate position across all model years in that range.
The 89 bulb is specified for the Toyota Tercel across the 1980-1990 model years, with the exception of 1987, for which no data is provided in these specifications.
The two bulb types are not interchangeable with each other. The 168 uses a wedge base while the 89 uses a bayonet base, and their wattage ratings differ by more than 8W, making socket compatibility and electrical load incompatible between the two.
The transition from the 89 to the 168 between the 1990 and 1991 model years reflects a shift from a bayonet-base single-filament bulb to a lower-wattage wedge-base bulb, consistent with broader industry movement toward smaller, more efficient license plate illumination.