Volkswagen Tiguan License Plate Bulb Size

The Volkswagen Tiguan license plate light requires 12961 and DE3423 bulb sizes for proper illumination. Available data covers the range from 2009 through 2018 for the specified lighting components.

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
2014-2018	12961 (With Halogen Capsule Headlamps)
2009-2013	DE3423

Bulb Specifications

Description	Bulb Size
Philips part number. Miniature wedge bulb (T10) with W2.1x9.5d base. 12V, 5W.	12961
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Festoon bulb, 41mm length, end-cap contacts. 12V.	DE3423

Other Locations

Additional Notes

The Volkswagen Tiguan uses two distinct license plate bulb types across its model years, with the 12961 fitted to 2014-2018 models equipped with halogen capsule headlamps and the DE3423 fitted to 2009-2013 models.
The 12961 is a Philips part number designating a T10 miniature wedge bulb with a W2.1x9.5d base, operating at 12V and 5W.
The W2.1x9.5d base is a wedge-type connector where the bulb glass itself acts as the contact point, seating directly into a socket without a separate metal base.
The DE3423 is an ANSI-standardized festoon bulb used across the United States and Canada, featuring a 41mm length with end-cap contacts at each terminal and operating at 12V.
Festoon bulbs make electrical contact through metal caps at both ends of the cylindrical body, which distinguishes them physically and electrically from wedge-type bulbs such as the T10.
The two bulb types are not interchangeable, as the T10 wedge and the 41mm festoon use fundamentally different socket designs and contact methods.
The halogen capsule headlamp condition noted for 2014-2018 Tiguan models indicates that the 12961 bulb size applies specifically to that headlamp configuration rather than to all variants of those model years.