# 2012 Fiat 500 license plate lamps

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-fiat-500-license-plate-lamps/119048>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** fiat, 500\
**Created:** [June 11, 2018, 3:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-fiat-500-license-plate-lamps/119048 "2018-06-11T15:34:47Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![edwaredcrane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/48db29/32.png) [@edwaredcrane](https://community.cartalk.com/u/edwaredcrane)\
**Post date:** [June 11, 2018, 3:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-fiat-500-license-plate-lamps/119048/1 "2018-06-11T15:34:47Z")

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i my license plate lamps went out. Fiat does not make a replacement bulbs for the 2012. Starting in 2013 they changed out the bulbs. i tried to in stall a after market LED light and it does not really work well. What can i do short of replacing the back lift handle where the license plate lamps are located.

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**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\
**Post date:** [June 17, 2018, 12:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-fiat-500-license-plate-lamps/119048/2 "2018-06-17T12:51:19Z")

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What does the parts counter guy at the dealer say? It’s seems like Fiat dealers must have a way to deal with this.

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**Author:** ![wentwest](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/wentwest/32/6073_2.png) [@wentwest](https://community.cartalk.com/u/wentwest)\
**Post date:** [June 17, 2018, 5:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-fiat-500-license-plate-lamps/119048/3 "2018-06-17T17:20:56Z")

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Based on what I found in a quick Google search, the early 2012 Fiat 500 had a license plate light bulb built into the handle mechanism, and you have to replace the whole thing. It sounds completely unbelievable, but here’s what I read.

> **[Fiat 500 License Plate Bulb Change](http://www.fiat500usa.com/2014/09/fiat-500-license-plate-bulb-change.html)**
>
> How to change the license plate light on a Fiat 500, 500 Cabrio and 500 Abarth. Early cars required you to change the entire tailgate lift handle at considerable expense - normally well over $100. However, starting somewhere around March 2012, Fiat...

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**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\
**Post date:** [June 17, 2018, 6:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-fiat-500-license-plate-lamps/119048/4 "2018-06-17T18:18:49Z")

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Well you can screw around trying to retrofit another bulb in there or just bite the bullet and buy a new handle for $100. I think that’s probably what I would do and be done with it. The Police love to pull you over for having a license plate light out. You can spend a lot of time and effort trying to retrofit something. They really should give you a break on the price though.

My 86 Park Avenue had opera lights but they were some type of fluorescent lights. When one went out and the replacement cost was very significant, I rewired them both to use standard bulbs. I used surplus sockets etc. and the only thing was instead of a bright white light, I got a mellow yellow light which I preferred anyway.

So just whatever you want to do. Screw around with it or buy a new handle and be done with it.