The rear license plate lamp on a 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe is designed to shed light on the rear license plate so it is visible to other drivers in low-light and nighttime conditions. Many states require all vehicles driven on public roads to have functional license plate lamps. Driving without a functioning lamp can result in being ticketed or fined. Replacement license plate lamp bulbs are available from hardware and auto parts stores.
Shut down the engine and place the truck's transmission in park. Set the parking brake.
Reach underneath the rear bumper and grip the license plate bulb receptacle. Turn it 90 degrees counterclockwise and pull out the receptacle with the bulb still attached.
Replace the old bulb with a new one and reinstall the receptacle. Turn it 90 degrees clockwise until it clicks.
Turn on the headlamps and verify that the license plate lamp is illuminated.
