Volkswagen Touareg License Plate Bulb Size

The Volkswagen Touareg license plate light uses bulb size 12961 and bulb size DE3423 for various production periods. Available data covers the range from 2004 through 2014 for the specified vehicle 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
2011-2014	12961 (Without LED Tail Lights)
2004-2010	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 Touareg uses two distinct license plate bulb types across its model years: the 12961, a miniature wedge bulb, and the DE3423, a festoon-style bulb.
The 12961 is a Philips part number designating a T10 wedge bulb with a W2.1x9.5d base, rated at 12 volts and 5 watts.
The DE3423 follows the ANSI standard recognized in the United States and Canada, taking the form of a festoon bulb with a 41mm length and end-cap contacts, rated at 12 volts.
The T10 wedge base of the 12961 is a push-in design that seats into a socket without rotation, while the DE3423 relies on spring tension between two end caps to hold it in place.
The Volkswagen Touareg (2011-2014) uses the 12961 bulb, but only in vehicles not equipped with LED tail lights, indicating that the license plate lamp housing type varies by trim or factory configuration.
The 2004-2010 Touareg uses the DE3423 festoon bulb for the license plate position, reflecting a different lamp housing design from the generation that followed.
The W2.1x9.5d base designation on the 12961 specifies the physical contact width and pin spacing, which means it is not interchangeable with other wedge base variants such as the W2.1x9.5d-incompatible T5 or T15 types.
Because the 2011-2014 fitment of the 12961 is conditional on the absence of LED tail lights, installing this bulb without confirming the vehicle's lighting configuration risks an incorrect fitment.