The 2008-2014 WRX uses conventional halogen lighting for the Base and Premium while the Limited gets a bump to HID. Getting the right bulb starts with knowing exactly which sub-generation you're working on.
Headlights — What's Serviceable by Year
2008-2011 WRX Base/Premium
Low beam: H11
High beam: 9005
Parking / front turn signal: 1157
Rear turn signal: 7440
Tail light: 7443
2011-2014 WRX Limited
Low beam: D2S
High beam: 9005
Parking / front turn signal: 1157
Rear turn signal: 7440
Tail light: 7443 or LED for hatch
Fog / driving light: H11
Unlike later LED-equipped generations, every position on the 2008-2014 WRX is a standard halogen bulb in a serviceable socket — there are no sealed assemblies to work around here. That makes this one of the most straightforward Subaru platforms to upgrade at the bulb level, whether you're going with a simple halogen swap for a whiter color temperature or a plug-and-play LED conversion.
Turn Signals — Front and Rear
Both sub-generations accept upgraded turn signal bulbs directly. Switchback LED bulbs (white for daytime running duty, amber when the signal activates) are a popular upgrade.
Hyperflash note: LED bulbs draw meaningfully less current than the factory incandescent bulbs the turn signal circuit expects. The car reads that reduced draw as a burned-out bulb and responds with hyperflash — fast, exaggerated blinking. A set of inline load resistors or a plug-and-play load equalizer resolves this and restores normal blink cadence.
Interior Lighting
The 2008-2014 WRX uses standard wedge and festoon sockets throughout the cabin — map/reading lights, dome light, vanity mirror lights, and trunk/cargo light are all straightforward LED swaps with no modification required. LED interior bulbs run noticeably brighter and whiter than the factory incandescents and last far longer.
License Plate Lights
A simple, high-value upgrade. LED license plate bulbs are a direct swap and give you a sharper white output with essentially indefinite service life compared to the factory bulb.
