I did it on an IS 200, 2000. Remove boot lid (trunk lid) lining. Remove 4 8mm nuts that are in a row about 20 inches long behind the lights. Two of them hold the key lock in place. There are two white plastic locators in behind the metal protecting the lights.Use a screwdriver to pop them as you pull plastic trim surrounding the lights and lock from the other side.
The left side light can be popped out with a screwdriver from the left hand side. Rotate bulb holder anti clockwise. Its a 5w capless bulb.
Ask your car dealer...
Open your trunk the two inner bulbs are for your license plate twist and should pop right out
push up and turn on the housing
You need to remove the liner on the trunk lid. That will give you access to the license plate lights housing. Remove the sockets by twisting 1/4 turn and replace bulbs. Size for bulbs are 2825
Open the rear hatch and remove the inside trim on the lower portion of the hatch. The bulbs will be accessible once the trim is removed. The bulb sockets are twist in.
The clear covers for the license plate light bulbs have small arrows pointing in one direction. Simply push the cover to the direction of the arrows and the covers will slide off allowing for the old light bulbs to be replaced.
OPEN THE TRUNK LID. JUST INSIDE THE LID BEHIND THE LICENSE BULB CASE ARE 2 PHILIP HEAD SCREWS THAT REMOVE THE BACKING PLATE. ONCE YOU REMOVE IT YOU CAN REPLACE BOTH LITTLE BULBS. THEN PUT THE PLATE AND SCREWS BACK IN YOUR READY TO GO.....
If you can not remove fasteners on outside, you may need to cut a section out of the inside of trunk to get your hand by the bulbs.
How do I change the license plate bulb on a 1993 Lexus ES 300
Remove the screws that hold the covers in place. Replace bulbs!
There are two (2) lights directly above the license plate. Each light has two (2) screws. Remove these screws and the covers. Lights pop out with little effort. Replace bad bulbs with size 194 lights. These are approx $2 at walmart or an auto parts store. Once bulbs are replaced, reattach covers with the screws and you should be good to go.
On top of the license plate is a clear plastic lens with 2 screws in it. Take it off. Then a bulb slides into the holder, then replace the lens. There are 2 bulbs. One on each side.