Volvo 244 License Plate Bulb Size

The Volvo 244 license plate light uses bulb sizes 3893, DE3423, 57, and 257 depending on the specific version of the vehicle. Available data covers the range from 1975 through 1989.

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
1988-1989	3893
1986-1987	DE3423
1985	3893
1984	57
1983	DE3423
1980-1982	257
1979	57
1977-1978	257
1975-1976	57

Bulb Specifications

Description	Bulb Size
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Dual-filament bulb with BAY15d bayonet base, specialty application. 12V.	3893
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Festoon bulb, 41mm length, end-cap contacts. 12V.	DE3423
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Single-filament bulb with BA9s base. 12V, 1W.	57
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Festoon or BA9s base instrument bulb. 12V, 2W.	257

Other Locations

Additional Notes

Across the 1975-1989 model years of the Volvo 244, four distinct bulb types appear in the license plate bulb specifications: the 3893, DE3423, 57, and 257.
The 257 is the most frequently specified bulb, covering the 1977-1982 model years along with 1978, making it the dominant fitment across this production span.
The DE3423 is a festoon-type bulb measuring 41mm in length with end-cap contacts, and it is specified for the Volvo 244 in 1983, 1986, and 1987.
Festoon bulbs such as the DE3423 make contact at both ends of the bulb body rather than through a base socket, which distinguishes their installation method from bayonet or pin-base types.
The 3893 carries a BAY15d bayonet base and is a dual-filament bulb rated at 12V, specified for the 1985, 1988, and 1989 model years.
A dual-filament bulb like the 3893 contains two separate filaments within a single envelope, though in a license plate application only one filament is typically active.
The 57 is a single-filament bulb with a BA9s miniature bayonet base, rated at 12V and 1W, and is specified for the 1975-1976, 1979, and 1984 model years.
The 257 shares the BA9s base form factor with the 57 but is rated at 2W rather than 1W, and the two are not directly interchangeable despite the base similarity.
All four bulb types in these specifications conform to ANSI standards recognized in both the United States and Canada, indicating standardized sizing and electrical ratings.
The license plate bulb fitment for the Volvo 244 changes multiple times across its production run, meaning year-specific verification is necessary before replacement.