Jay Leno Just Helped Change California’s Smog Laws For Classic Cars
California isn’t exactly famous for giving car enthusiasts a break when emissions regulations enter the conversation, but owners of certain classics are finally getting one. Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 1392, better known as Jay Leno‘s Law, on September 16, creating a new path around California’s smog-check requirements for qualifying collector cars from the 1976 through 1985 model years. Fittingly, he signed it at Jay Leno’s garage in Burbank.
Don’t expect every Malaise Era project car to suddenly escape emissions testing, though. The exemption begins in 2028, comes with restrictions intended to keep daily drivers out, and gradually expands through 2033. Newsom also signed legislation creating a dedicated lowrider license plate and another bill aimed at speeding up California’s approval process for aftermarket parts.
Jay Leno’s Law Finally Moves California Past 1975
California currently generally exempts gasoline-powered vehicles from biennial smog checks if they’re 1975 model year or older, leaving increasingly collectible cars from the late 1970s and early 1980s on the other side of the line. Jay Leno’s Law begins changing that on January 1, 2028, when qualifying collector vehicles manufactured before 1981 become exempt from smog certification. Another model year will be added annually until vehicles manufactured before 1986 are covered in 2033.
Age alone won’t get your classic through the door. According to Newsom’s office, eligible vehicles must either be insured as collector vehicles or driven fewer than 1,000 miles annually, keeping the exemption focused on genuine collector cars rather than old daily drivers.
California Is Giving Lowriders And Aftermarket Parts A Break, Too
Newsom signed two other pieces of automotive legislation at Leno’s garage. AB 2541 creates a specialized California license plate celebrating the state’s lowrider heritage, following legislation signed in 2023 that removed statewide restrictions affecting lowrider cruising.
Meanwhile, SB 1069 is intended to expedite California’s review process for manufacturers seeking approval to sell aftermarket parts. It doesn’t eliminate the state’s approval requirements, but it could make navigating them quicker for manufacturers.
For classic-car owners, however, Jay Leno’s Law is the headline. The exemption isn’t as broad as some enthusiasts might have hoped, and the first qualifying cars won’t benefit until 2028, but California’s infamous 1975 cutoff is finally starting to move. For owners of collector cars trapped immediately on the wrong side of that line, that’s a change decades in the making.
Source: Gov.Ca
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