What bulb does my license plate light use?

The most common license plate light bulbs are 194, 168, 2825, and W5W. These are small wedge-base bulbs that cost a couple dollars each. Check your owner's manual for the exact number, or pull the old bulb out and read what's printed on it. You can also use our vehicle finder to look it up by year, make, and model.

Can I get a ticket for a burned out license plate light?

Yes. Every state requires your rear license plate to be illuminated at night. It's one of the most common reasons for getting pulled over because it gives officers probable cause for a traffic stop. The fix costs less than $5 and takes a few minutes, so there's no reason to risk it.

Should I upgrade my license plate light to LED?

LED license plate bulbs are brighter, last longer, and give off a cleaner white light compared to the yellowish stock bulbs. They're a popular upgrade because they make the rear of your car look more modern. Just make sure you get the right size. Some LED bulbs are slightly longer than the stock bulb, so check that it fits inside the housing before snapping things back together.

Why did both license plate lights burn out at the same time?

If both went out at once, it's probably not the bulbs. Check the fuse first. License plate lights usually share a fuse with the tail lights or parking lights. If the fuse is good, look at the wiring and ground connection. A bad ground at the rear of the car can take out both plate lights at the same time.

My license plate light housing is cracked. Do I need to replace the whole thing?

A cracked housing lets in water, which will corrode the socket and kill bulbs faster. Replacement housings are cheap, usually $5 to $15 each. They snap or screw right in. If the housing is just slightly cracked but the seal is still okay, you can try sealing it with clear silicone as a temporary fix.

How to Replace a License Plate Light (Step by Step)

License plate light burned out? This might be the easiest bulb swap on your entire car. Under 10 minutes, no tools on most vehicles, and the bulb costs a couple bucks.

What You'll Need

New license plate light bulb (matched to your exact year, make, and model)
Phillips head screwdriver (if your housing is held by screws)
Flathead screwdriver or trim removal tool (for prying out snap-in housings)
About 10 minutes

Step by Step Instructions

Locate the License Plate Light

Look right above or beside your rear license plate. You'll see one or two small plastic housings with a lens. On sedans, these are usually mounted on the trunk lid right above the plate. On trucks and SUVs, they're in the tailgate or rear bumper. Some vehicles have them integrated into the tail light housing, but most have separate little units near the plate.

Remove the Housing or Lens

This part varies by vehicle, but there are three common setups. Some housings pop out from the outside when you press a release tab with a flathead screwdriver. Others are held in by one or two small Phillips screws that you remove from the outside. And on some trucks, you access the bulb socket from behind the bumper or tailgate by twisting the socket out. If you're not sure, check your owner's manual or look up your specific vehicle online.

Remove the Old Bulb

License plate bulbs are almost always small wedge-base bulbs. Just pull the old one straight out of the socket. No twisting needed. If it's stuck, wiggle it gently side to side while pulling. The bulb is tiny, so you might want to do this somewhere you won't lose it if it slips out of your fingers.

Install the New Bulb

Push the new bulb straight into the socket until it's fully seated. It should slide right in with a little resistance. Make sure it's pushed in all the way. If you're installing an LED bulb and it doesn't light up when you test it, pull it out and flip it around. Many LED wedge bulbs are polarity-sensitive.

Test and Reassemble

Before snapping or screwing things back together, test the bulb. Turn on your headlights or parking lights and walk to the back of the car. The license plate light should be on. Once you've confirmed it works, put the housing or lens back in place. Make sure any clips snap firmly and any screws are snug. Done.

Tips and Things to Watch For

Check the housing for water damage. License plate light housings sit low on the car and take a beating from road spray. If you see corrosion inside the socket or water stains on the lens, that's probably what killed the bulb. Clean the contacts and seal any cracks before putting a new bulb in.
Replace both sides at once. If your car has two license plate lights and one burned out, the other is probably close behind. These bulbs cost a dollar or two each. Do both while you're there.
LED is a solid upgrade here. LED license plate bulbs draw less power, last much longer, and give off a brighter white light. The yellowish glow from stock incandescent bulbs can make your plate harder to read at night. LEDs fix that.
Be gentle with the housing clips. The plastic clips on license plate light housings get brittle over time, especially in cold weather. If you snap one, the housing won't stay in place and you'll need to replace the whole unit. Work slowly and use a trim tool instead of forcing it with a screwdriver.

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