Leno's Law Passes the California Legislature: A Win for Classic Car Owners
Classic car enthusiasts have a big reason to celebrate. Leno's Law, a landmark bill offering smog check exemptions for classic cars in California, has passed the state legislature with a decisive bipartisan 49-4 vote. The bill now heads to Governor Gavin Newsom's desk for final approval.
What Is Leno's Law?
For years, strict California emissions testing kept many restored vehicles parked under car covers instead of on the road — compliance was simply too costly. Leno's Law changes that by creating a phased-in, collector-only smog exemption for vehicles built between 1976 and 1985.
Here's how the rollout works:
• January 1, 2028 – Exemption begins for classics built before the 1981 model year
• Each year after – The exemption expands by one model year
• 2033 – Full coverage reaches the 1986 cutoff
To qualify, owners must carry collector car insurance or prove they drive fewer than 1,000 miles per year — safeguards designed to keep the exemption limited to true collector vehicles, not daily drivers.
Industry and Community Support
SEMA CEO Mike Spagnola praised the win, calling it proof that California's automotive community came together to protect the state's automotive heritage for future generations.
Support came from all directions — lawmakers, the lowrider community (which submitted over 1,700 letters of support), and even the FIA International Historical Commission internationally, underscoring how far California's car culture reach extends.
Senator Dave Cortese, who authored the bill, noted that California can protect clean air without erasing its automotive history — a message that resonated with an aftermarket industry supporting roughly 150,000 jobs statewide.
Why This Matters for Classic Car Owners
Leno's Law recognizes something the classic car community has said for years: there's a real difference between a daily commuter and a garage-kept weekend cruiser. As the industry awaits the governor's signature, this legislation stands to protect the vintage, nostalgic machines that helped build American car culture — keeping them on the road where they belong.
