'Leno's Law' Becomes Official, But the Exemption Waits Until 2028

As presented by the governor's office, the law establishes a "narrow smog-check exemption for qualifying collector cars from the 1976 through 1985 model years that are insured as collector vehicles or driven less than 1,000 miles per year." The bill adds "collector cars" to California's list of vehicles exempt from smog testing, a list that until now has covered only 1975-model-year and older cars.

Qualifying is not automatic. Under the state's definition, a collector car must be at least 35 model years old and used primarily in shows, parades, charitable functions, and historical exhibitions rather than as the owner's primary transportation. It must also be either insured as a collector vehicle or shown to be driven fewer than 1,000 miles per calendar year. The car must comply with the exhaust emissions standards for its class and model year, pass a functional fuel-cap inspection, and pass a visual check for liquid fuel leaks.

The 35-year threshold is necessary but not sufficient. A rolling model-year cutoff, not the 35-year line, determines eligibility. According to the governor's office, the exemption begins January 1, 2028, for collector vehicles manufactured before the 1981 model year. It then advances one model year each January through 2033, when it stops at pre-1986 cars. Many of the most popular cars from the '80s remain excluded.

Existing smog exemptions for pre-1976 vehicles remain entirely unchanged.

"A classic car that spends most of its life in a garage and comes out for a parade, car show, or charity event is not the same as a daily commuter, and our laws should recognize that," said State Senator Dave Cortese, the bill's primary author. "SB 1392 brings common sense back to the smog-check system, protects a treasured part of California culture, and gives classic car owners a fair shot at preserving these pieces of history."

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