Volkswagen Passat License Plate Bulb Size

Additional Notes

• The Volkswagen Passat license plate position uses two distinct bulb types across its model range: the 12961, a Philips-designated miniature wedge bulb, and the DE3423, an ANSI-standard festoon bulb.
• The 12961 is a T10 wedge bulb with a W2.1x9.5d base, rated at 12 volts and 5 watts. The W2.1x9.5d base designation refers to a wedge-style contact with a 2.1mm wire width and a 9.5mm base width.
• The DE3423 is a festoon-type bulb with a 41mm length and end-cap contacts at both terminals. It operates at 12 volts and follows the ANSI standard used across the United States and Canada.
• These two bulb types are not interchangeable. The T10 wedge base of the 12961 and the end-cap festoon format of the DE3423 require different socket configurations in the license plate housing.
• The Volkswagen Passat used the 12961 bulb from 1990-2000, representing the earlier portion of the model range covered by these specifications.
• The DE3423 festoon bulb was specified for the 2001-2007 and 2009-2010 model years, making it the more frequently listed bulb type across the full range of these specifications.
• The 2008 Volkswagen Passat returns to the 12961 specification, placing it between two DE3423 periods, which means the 2007 and 2008 model years require different bulb types despite being consecutive.
• The 2011 model year is absent from these specifications, and the 2012-2015 Passat returns to the 12961 wedge bulb, the same type specified for the 1990-2000 range.