Leno’s Law Signed: What California’s New Classic Car Smog Exemption Actually Means

California has officially changed its smog-check rules for certain classic and collector cars.

On September 16, 2026, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 1392, commonly known as Leno’s Law, at Jay Leno’s garage in Burbank, California.

The new law creates a phased-in smog-check exemption for qualifying collector vehicles from the 1976 through 1985 model years.

But there’s an important detail:

1976–1985 vehicles are not automatically smog-exempt now.

The first exemptions don’t begin until January 1, 2028, and eligibility expands gradually through 2033. Vehicles must also meet specific collector-vehicle requirements.

Here’s what classic-car owners need to know.

What Is Leno’s Law?

Leno’s Law is California Senate Bill 1392, legislation created specifically for older collector vehicles that are preserved and used on a limited basis rather than as everyday transportation.

The law creates a narrow pathway for qualifying collector vehicles to become exempt from California’s smog-check certification requirements.

It does not eliminate smog checks for every vehicle built between 1976 and 1985.

Which Classic Cars Will Be Smog Exempt?

The first change takes effect January 1, 2028.

At that point, qualifying collector vehicles manufactured before the 1981 model year become eligible for the exemption.

That means qualifying vehicles from model years 1976 through 1980 make up the first group.

After that, another model year is added annually until qualifying vehicles manufactured before the 1986 model year are included.

Leno’s Law Smog Exemption Schedule

Effective Date	Qualifying Collector Vehicles
January 1, 2028	Pre-1981
January 1, 2029	Pre-1982
January 1, 2030	Pre-1983
January 1, 2031	Pre-1984
January 1, 2032	Pre-1985
January 1, 2033	Pre-1986

By January 1, 2033, qualifying collector vehicles from the entire 1976–1985 model-year range will be included.

Does Every 1976–1985 Vehicle Qualify?

No.

This is probably the most important part of Leno’s Law.

The exemption is intended for qualifying collector vehicles, not every older vehicle still registered in California.

The law provides a pathway for vehicles that meet the collector requirements and are insured as collector vehicles. It also provides for a low-mileage pathway involving qualifying vehicles driven fewer than 1,000 miles per calendar year, with California’s DMV and Bureau of Automotive Repair responsible for implementing the necessary procedures.

In other words, simply owning a 1978, 1982 or 1985 vehicle does not automatically make it smog-exempt.

The vehicle still has to qualify under the requirements of the law.

What About Cars Older Than 1976?

Leno’s Law does not eliminate California’s existing exemption for older vehicles.

The new law addresses the group of collector vehicles immediately following the longstanding cutoff—the late-1970s and early-1980s cars that have increasingly become legitimate classics themselves.

Why Is This Important for Classic-Car Owners?

For decades, California’s smog rules have created a sharp dividing line in the collector-car world.

Two very similar cars built only a year apart could face completely different smog-check requirements because one fell on one side of the cutoff and the other didn’t.

Meanwhile, vehicles from the late 1970s and early 1980s have aged into legitimate collector cars.

Think about what falls into this period: American performance cars, early Japanese classics, European sports cars, trucks, off-road vehicles and plenty of other vehicles that enthusiasts are now restoring and preserving rather than using as daily transportation.

Leno’s Law creates a limited path for qualifying vehicles from that era to eventually receive a smog-check exemption.

Is California Creating a Rolling Classic-Car Smog Exemption?

No.

Leno’s Law does not create an unlimited rolling exemption where a vehicle automatically becomes smog-exempt when it reaches a certain age.

The phase-in currently stops with qualifying vehicles manufactured before the 1986 model year.

That distinction matters.

Unless California changes the law again, later vehicles will not automatically become exempt simply because they get older.

When Does Leno’s Law Take Effect?

The first date collector-car owners need to remember is:

January 1, 2028.

That’s when qualifying pre-1981 collector vehicles become eligible.

Another model year is then added each year until January 1, 2033, when qualifying vehicles manufactured before the 1986 model year are included.

California’s DMV and Bureau of Automotive Repair will be responsible for implementing the procedures necessary to administer the program.

Owners should therefore check the official requirements when their vehicle’s eligibility date approaches rather than assuming the model year alone makes the vehicle exempt.

Who Was Behind Leno’s Law?

SB 1392 was authored by California Senator Dave Cortese, with Senator Shannon Grove serving as principal co-author.

The legislation was backed by Jay Leno and the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) and received support from collector-car organizations, automotive businesses, preservation groups, car clubs and members of California’s lowrider community.

The legislation was designed specifically around limited-use collector vehicles rather than everyday transportation.

The Bottom Line

Leno’s Law is now California law, but it does not immediately make every 1976–1985 vehicle smog-exempt.

Beginning January 1, 2028, qualifying collector vehicles from model years 1976–1980 become the first group eligible for the new exemption.

The cutoff then advances one model year each year until qualifying 1976–1985 collector vehicles are included beginning in 2033.

For owners restoring and preserving cars from the late 1970s and early 1980s, that’s the change worth understanding.

Just remember:

The year of the car alone isn’t enough. The vehicle must also meet California’s collector-vehicle eligibility requirements.

V-Twins to V-8s will update this article as California’s DMV and Bureau of Automotive Repair release additional information about implementing Leno’s Law.