Smog check: motor vehicles: exemption.

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and digest do not provide details on what happens if a historical vehicle does not meet exhaust emissions standards.

Exemption from Smog Checks for Older Historical Vehicles

This law allows motor vehicles that are at least 35 years old and manufactured before the 1981 model year to skip smog checks if they have a special historical vehicle plate and are insured as collector cars.

What This Bill Does

• Adds an exemption for motor vehicles that are at least 35 years old, were manufactured prior to the 1981 model year, and have been assigned a special identification plate indicating they are historical vehicles.
• Requires these vehicles to be insured as collector cars.
• Allows these exempted vehicles to skip smog checks both when renewing registration and when transferring ownership.
• Expands the exemption each year for five years starting in 2028 by adding one more model year to the list of eligible cars.

Who It Names or Affects

• Owners of older historical vehicles that meet specific criteria.
• The Department of Consumer Affairs which administers smog checks.

Terms To Know

smog check

A test to make sure a car's exhaust is not polluting the air too much.

collector motor vehicle

An older car that people keep and often restore or show off, rather than driving regularly.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify what happens if a historical vehicle does not meet the exhaust emissions standards.
• It is unclear how many vehicles will qualify for this exemption once it's fully expanded in five years.
• The law only applies to California and its Department of Consumer Affairs.

Official Summary Text

SB 712, as amended, Grove.
Smog check: motor vehicles: exemption.
Existing law establishes a motor vehicle inspection and maintenance (smog check) program that is administered by the Department of Consumer Affairs. The smog check program requires inspection of motor vehicles upon initial registration, biennially upon renewal of registration, upon transfer of ownership, and in certain other circumstances. Existing law exempts specified vehicles from being inspected biennially upon renewal of registration, including, among others, all motor vehicles manufactured prior to the 1976 model year. Existing law also exempts from specified portions of the smog test, both biennially and at transfer, a collector motor vehicle that is insured as a collector motor vehicle, is at least 35 model years old, complies with the exhaust emissions standards for that motor vehicle’s class and model year as prescribed by the department, and that passes a functional
inspection of the fuel cap and a visual inspection for liquid fuel leaks.
This bill would, commencing on January 1, 2027, additionally fully exempt from the smog check requirements, both biennially and at transfer, a motor vehicle that
is at least 35 model years old,
was manufactured prior to the 1981 model year,
has been assigned a special identification plate indicating that it is a historical vehicle, and is insured as a collector motor
vehicle.
vehicle, as specified. The bill, beginning January 1, 2028, would expand this exemption by one model year, every year, for 5 years.
The bill
would be known, and may be cited as, Leno’s Law.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF