California classic car owners are getting a new path around certain emissions testing requirements after Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation addressing historic vehicles. The measure creates a phased-in smog check exemption for qualifying vehicles from the 1976 through 1985 model years while maintaining broader state clean-air standards.
California Classic Cars Get Smog Check Exemption
Known as Senate Bill 1392, or “Jay Leno’s Law,” the legislation establishes a phased-in smog check exemption for qualifying vehicles produced between the 1976 and 1985 model years.
Newsom signed the bill alongside longtime advocate Jay Leno during a special event in Burbank. The legislation is intended to provide targeted relief for vehicles that have faced emissions-testing requirements.
To qualify under SB 1392, owners must maintain specialized collector vehicle insurance policies or certify that their vehicle is driven fewer than 1,000 miles per year. The qualifying vehicles are intended for car shows, parades and occasional leisure drives rather than daily commuting.
Other California Classic Car Measures
Newsom also signed Assembly Bill 2541, which establishes a specialized license plate program connected to California’s lowrider culture. Introduced by Assemblymember Mark Gonzales, AB 2541 funds local youth art initiatives while celebrating Chicano automotive heritage.
Newsom also approved Senate Bill 1069, which streamlines the state review process for aftermarket parts manufacturers serving the classic car market.
What the New Rules Mean for Collectors
The legislation distinguishes preserved collector vehicles from daily commuter vehicles through requirements including annual mileage limits and collector insurance. The measure provides a defined path for qualifying classic vehicles while broader California clean-air standards remain in place.
The changes come as interest in collector vehicles expands across newer demographics, with young buyers entering the vintage market and seeking retro trucks and classic cars.
California’s Classic Car Culture
SB 1392 provides a regulatory framework for qualifying vehicles from the 1976 through 1985 model years, while AB 2541 addresses California’s lowrider culture and SB 1069 focuses on aftermarket parts manufacturers serving the classic car market.
Together, the measures address emissions testing, specialized license plates and the state review process for aftermarket parts within California’s classic and collector vehicle community.
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