diff --git a/frigate/data_processing/common/license_plate/model.py b/frigate/data_processing/common/license_plate/model.py
index 25e7b2caf..f53ed7d95 100644
--- a/frigate/data_processing/common/license_plate/model.py
+++ b/frigate/data_processing/common/license_plate/model.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ from ...types import DataProcessorModelRunner
 
 
 class LicensePlateModelRunner(DataProcessorModelRunner):
-    def __init__(self, requestor, device: str = "CPU", model_size: str = "large"):
+    def __init__(self, requestor, device: str = "CPU", model_size: str = "small"):
         super().__init__(requestor, device, model_size)
         self.detection_model = PaddleOCRDetection(
             model_size=model_size, requestor=requestor, device=device