Volvo S40 License Plate Bulb Size

The Volvo S40 license plate components utilize DE3423 and 12961 bulb sizes for illumination purposes across various production versions. Provided information covers a specific time span starting in 2000 and ending in 2011.

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
2005-2011	DE3423
2004	12961 (Early Model)
2004	DE3423 (Late Model)
2000-2003	12961

Bulb Specifications

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

Other Locations

Additional Notes

The Volvo S40 license plate bulb specifications cover model years 2000-2011, with two distinct bulb types appearing across that span: the DE3423 festoon bulb and the 12961 miniature wedge bulb.
The DE3423 is an ANSI-standardized festoon bulb rated at 12V, measuring 41mm in length and making electrical contact through end-cap terminals at each end of the bulb body.
The 12961 carries a Philips part number and is a T10 miniature wedge bulb with a W2.1x9.5d base, rated at 12V and 5W. The wedge base design means it is held in place by friction rather than a separate locking mechanism.
The DE3423 and 12961 use fundamentally different base types, festoon end-cap versus wedge, making them non-interchangeable without a compatible socket.
The Volvo S40 model years 2000-2003 use the 12961 wedge bulb exclusively for the license plate position.
From 2005-2011, the S40 uses the DE3423 festoon bulb exclusively across all units produced in those years.
The 2004 model year is a split-fitment year for the Volvo S40, with early production units requiring the 12961 wedge bulb and late production units requiring the DE3423 festoon bulb. Confirming the production period of a specific 2004 vehicle is necessary before selecting a replacement bulb.
The transition from the 12961 to the DE3423 reflects a socket and housing change between production runs, meaning the physical lamp holder in the vehicle determines which bulb type is correct.