On Wednesday, Governor Gavin Newsom enacted Senate Bill 1392, also known as Leno’s Law, which introduces a phased approach to exempting eligible collector cars from smog checks. The law applies to vehicles manufactured between 1976 and 1985 and was signed into effect at Jay Leno’s garage, with the comedy legend in attendance.
As a result of this new law, classic car enthusiasts in California can breathe a sigh of relief. Following years of advocacy and bipartisan support from Senators Dave Cortese and Shannon Grove, the exemption will take effect on January 1, 2028. At that time, officially registered collector vehicles from model years prior to 1981 will no longer require a certificate of compliance with California’s smog regulations.
The exemption will gradually expand to include vehicles from subsequent model years, with an additional model year being exempted each year until January 1, 2033, when vehicles from model years prior to 1986 will be exempt. According to the Governor’s office, the number of vehicles that qualify for this exemption represents a relatively small proportion of California’s total vehicle fleet.
Exemption Requirements
In order to qualify for the exemption, a vehicle must be officially registered as a collector car, and the owner must meet specific requirements, including holding collector car insurance and limiting the vehicle’s annual mileage to fewer than 1,000 miles. When announcing the legislation, Governor Newsom’s office struck a balance between preserving car culture and addressing environmental concerns.
The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile also voiced its support for the bill’s passage. Leno praised Governor Newsom in a statement on Wednesday for sticking with California’s classic car community.
“The governor stuck with this legislation through the last couple of years to preserve California’s classic car heritage, and that’s rare,” said Jay Leno. “The car community has been waiting on this for a long time, and they notice when someone follows through. Thank you, Governor.”
The legislative process was not without its challenges. Initially, Jay Leno backed Senate Bill 712 in 2025, but it ultimately failed to progress. Senators Cortese and Grove later introduced Senate Bill 1392 on February 20, 2026, which reworked the emissions testing exemption to address concerns from stakeholders at the California Department of Motor Vehicles.
The signing of Senate Bill 1392 coincides with the enactment of two other measures: Assembly Bill 2541, which creates a specialty license plate to honor California’s lowrider heritage, and Senate Bill 1069, which establishes a framework to expedite the review process for manufacturers seeking state approval for the sale of aftermarket parts.
