‘Leno’s Law’ could be big win for California’s classic car culture

Since 2005, the state has exempt vehicles from smog testing since model year 1975 or later. It's great if you're cruising on a 60's muscle car or a 50's hot rod, but it's great if the pride and joy from 1976 onwards is brought to the Smog Station every two years.

These older emission systems are difficult to comply with current regulations, especially for collector vehicles. They are fragile, clumsy, and sometimes impossible to comply without new, old stock (NOS) parts.

This bill – introduced by Senator Shannon Grove (R Bakersfield), the bill has lots of cheerleading from car-loving comics, but offers a complete exemption from smog checks for classic cars over 35 if you have insurance as a collector's car. That's a big leap from the current static cutoff in 1975, and I'm pretty excited about car buffs like me, and Reno.

Senior Special

Well, this is where rubber meets the roads. To get this smog exemption, your classic car must meet two important criteria.

1. year: The vehicle must be a model at least 35 years old. So, as of 2025, we've been talking about cars since before 1990. If you have a 1980 Corvette, a 1980s Mustang, a 1989 BMW M3, or a 1989 Porsche 911 Turbo, if you're lucky.
2. Collector Status: The car must be insured as a collector's vehicle. This is not just an exemption for everything. Daily drivers do not get a pass. Collector's insurance usually has low mileage per year, often under 5,000 miles, and other restrictions such as garage requirements, proving that it is not a grocery store. This will target the bill to true classics rather than beat-up commuters of the 80s.

Leno and Globe argue that these cars are not smog villains. They're modestly moving that they don't earn tens of thousands of miles a year, considering car shows, weekend cruises and the occasional charity parade.

Moreover, they are meticulously maintained by owners who often treat them like family heirlooms. I've seen this firsthand at a car event. These classics are not pollution machines, but labor of love. I am a classic car restoration company and owner.

Hope for a future classic?

The 2025, 35-year threshold means that the 1990 model year is a cutoff. Therefore, anything is eligible after 1990, assuming you have collector insurance. This is a 15-year jump from the current 1975 cutoff, opening the door to a whole new era of classics, including Detroit irons in the late 70s, Japanese imports in the 80s, and European gems in the early 90s.

But here's a million dollar question. Does this 35 year mark move forward like a rolling exemption every year?

The short answer is no – At least not automatic.

Unlike California's old pre-2005 law, there was a 30-year exemption – meaning that the cutoff increased each year – the SB 712 sets a 35-year threshold fixed in that language. That is, it is not designed to move forward on the calendar unless lawmakers modify it later. For now, 1990 has kept the line in the sand until the bill is revisited or new ones are proposed. This is for future collectibles.

Will that be an exemption from rolling on the road? probably. Auto enthusiasts and groups like the Professional Equipment Market Association, which supports the bill, may push it in the future.

The 35-year rule means that the model is eligible by 2030 and the 2005 model will join the club by 2040. However, at present, “Reno's Law” is trapped in its 35th year mark, and new laws are required for changes.

What's interesting is that Jay Reno isn't just bent over celebrities here. He has a point.

Iconic car culture

California's classic car culture is iconic. Born from the postwar hot rod boom, it has been spurred by the Hollywood romance between chrome and horsepower.

However, the state's strict smog laws made it difficult to keep older cars on road lined, especially due to the lack of smog equipment from models from the '80s and '90s. I spoke with owners from several states who are struggling to find stores that are willing to test pre-OBDII cars. The SB 712 was able to relieve that headache and live on these gentle history.

And it's not just nostalgia. The aftermarket industry, where SEMA pegs for $52 billion nationwide, supports 149,325 thousand jobs in California alone. From restoration shops to parts suppliers, the bill could boost the sector without significantly recessing air quality. After all, these classics make up a small portion of cars on California roads.

The bill faces an initial hearing in April before the Senate Transportation Committee, and then requires approval from the entire Senate, Congress and Governor Gavin Newsom (D) desk. Environmentalists may be pushed back as a green trend in California, but Grove and Leno argue that the effects are negligible. I tend to agree. These cars are not the smog perpetrators we should chase. But a compelling newspaper may put some pressure on his members.

I consider “Reno's Law” to be a practical compromise. It celebrates California's automotive heritage, focusing on collector cars rather than everyday drivers. For now, classics since 1990 are in the spotlight and that won't shift each year unless lawmakers adjust it later. If you have a garage queen since the 80s, cross your fingers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eymu_f6jp0g

Now I want to hear from you. What do you think? I'd like to hear what you think below.