“Leno’s Law” Becomes A Reality

California Senate Bill 1392 (SB 1392), officially known as “Leno’s Law,” provides a targeted smog check exemption for qualifying collector vehicles manufactured between model years 1976 and 1985. To qualify for the exemption, the vehicle must be maintained primarily for limited collector use (such as car shows, parades, and exhibitions) and meet one of two criteria: carry collector-car insurance or be verified as driven under 1,000 miles per year.

Rollout Schedule

Rather than taking effect all at once, the exemption phases in gradually over six years:

• January 1, 2028: Exemption opens for qualifying model year 1976 through 1980 vehicles (built before model year 1981).

• 2029–2033: The cutoff expands by one model year each January until full coverage reaches model year 1985 by 2033.

Origins and Lobbying History

Jay Leno and the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) campaigned for over two years to shepherd this exact legislation through the state capitol, though Leno has been a public advocate for smog reform for over two decades.

The issue stems back to 2004, when California froze its original rolling 30-year smog exemption at the 1975 model year cutoff. After an earlier attempt (SB 712) died in committee in 2025, Leno joined bipartisan co-authors Senator Dave Cortese (D) and Senator Shannon Grove (R) to reintroduce SB 1392. Building a coalition of car clubs, restoration shops, and lowrider groups, the bill passed the California Legislature 49–4 and was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom at Jay Leno’s Garage.

Why It Is a Major Win

• For Classic Car Enthusiasts: Vehicles manufactured from 1976 to 1985 (the “Malaise Era”) were stuck in regulatory limbo. Their primitive, early-era emissions equipment—like early catalytic converters and complex vacuum lines—is largely obsolete, making replacement parts nearly impossible to source and passing smog tests a persistent headache. The law protects accessible project cars, lowriders, and family heirlooms from being forced off the road or sold out of state.

• For Aftermarket Manufacturers: California is home to over 1,500 SEMA-member businesses contributing over $40 billion annually to the state’s economy. Exempting collector vehicles built between 1976 and 1985 unlocks a massive 10-year generation of cars for restoration, resto-modding, performance upgrades, and custom fabrication without regulatory barriers stopping owners from registering them.