Volvo V50 License Plate Bulb Size

The Volvo V50 license plate light uses DE3423 and 12961 bulb sizes according to the provided data. Information for the lighting components covers the period from 2005 through 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 Type	Shop
2008-2011	DE3423	Check Price
2005-2007	12961	Check Price

Bulb Specifications

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

Other Locations

Additional Notes

The Volvo V50 license plate bulb specifications cover the 2005-2011 model years, with two distinct bulb types used across that span.
The DE3423 is an ANSI-standardized festoon bulb operating at 12V, with a 41mm length and end-cap contacts. End-cap contacts mean the bulb makes electrical contact at both of its flat ends rather than through a base socket.
The 12961 is a Philips part number designating a T10 miniature wedge bulb with a W2.1x9.5d base, rated at 12V and 5W. The wedge base design uses the bulb's own glass envelope, pinched at the bottom, to hold it in the socket without a separate metal base.
The Volvo V50 (2008-2011) uses the DE3423 festoon bulb for the license plate position.
The 2005-2007 model years use the 12961 wedge bulb instead, making the two bulb types non-interchangeable across the full production run despite serving the same position.
The DE3423 and 12961 have fundamentally different base types, festoon end-cap versus wedge, meaning a bulb from one group cannot be physically substituted into a socket designed for the other.
Both bulb types share a 12V operating voltage, which reflects the standard electrical system voltage common to passenger vehicles of this type.
The 12961 carries an explicit wattage rating of 5W, a typical output level for license plate illumination, which is a low-intensity application by automotive standards.
The DE3423 designation follows ANSI standardization applicable in the United States and Canada, meaning equivalent bulbs from different manufacturers sharing that designation are expected to conform to the same physical and electrical specifications.