California has not enacted a new ban on classic cars. The measure most relevant to the headline, SB 1392—known as Jay Leno’s Law—was signed on September 16, 2026, and creates a phased exemption from certain Smog Check certificate requirements for qualifying collector vehicles. It does not prohibit owning or generally driving classic cars. The exemption is not available yet, and it applies only when a vehicle meets the law’s age, use and eligibility rules.
What California’s new law changes
SB 1392 creates a future exemption from the certificate of compliance or noncompliance required for certain registration events, including initial registration, biennial renewal and transfer of ownership. It is a limited change to smog-check requirements—not a general exemption for every older vehicle.
The law was signed on September 16, 2026. Its exemptions take effect in stages, beginning January 1, 2028. The California Legislature’s enacted text sets out the eligibility rules and rollout: SB 1392.
When the exemption starts, by model year
The schedule adds one model year each year. “Before model year 1981,” for example, means model year 1980 or older—not every car built during calendar year 1981.
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| Effective date | Vehicles in the phased cohort |
|---|---|
| January 1, 2028 | Manufactured before model year 1981 |
| January 1, 2029 | Manufactured before model year 1982 |
| January 1, 2030 | Manufactured before model year 1983 |
| January 1, 2031 | Manufactured before model year 1984 |
| January 1, 2032 | Manufactured before model year 1985 |
| January 1, 2033 | Manufactured before model year 1986 |
The schedule identifies which model-year cohort may qualify; it does not make every vehicle in that cohort exempt automatically. The collector definition and route-specific requirements still apply.
What counts as a qualifying collector vehicle?
The law’s collector definition requires a vehicle to be at least 35 model years old and used primarily for shows, parades, charitable functions, historical exhibitions, display, maintenance and preservation—not as the owner’s primary transportation. In addition, the vehicle must meet one of the law’s eligibility routes.
Collector-insurance route
The vehicle must meet the statutory collector-insurance requirements. This route begins January 1, 2028 for the first model-year cohort and follows the phased schedule. Check the enacted text for the applicable requirements: SB 1392.
Low-mileage route
The alternative route requires driving fewer than 1,000 miles per calendar year. That is a statutory eligibility threshold, not a report of typical collector-car use. This route begins January 1, 2030 and applies to the later cohorts identified in the statute; it is not available as an immediate workaround for the current rules.
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Both routes remain subject to the collector-use criteria. The law directs the California Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) to adopt regulations and implementation procedures, so the evidence owners must provide—and the precise process for claiming the exemption—depends on BAR’s rules.
Does a 1976–1985 car still need a California Smog Check?
Until an applicable exemption takes effect and the vehicle qualifies under its route, owners should follow current BAR and DMV guidance. BAR says gasoline, hybrid and alternative-fuel vehicles from model year 1976 onward generally need a Smog Check, subject to exceptions. Gasoline vehicles from model year 1975 and older are exempt under the current age-based rule. BAR also describes checks at biennial renewal and change of ownership. See BAR’s Smog Check FAQ.
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DMV guidance also describes the older-vehicle exception and county-based inspection requirements for registration renewal. Because the rules depend on vehicle and registration circumstances, consult California DMV’s smog inspection guidance as well as BAR’s information.
What owners should check before relying on the exemption
- Model year: Confirm the vehicle’s model year and whether it falls within a cohort whose effective date has arrived.
- Collector use: Make sure its primary use fits the statutory collector definition rather than serving as your primary transportation.
- Eligibility route: Check whether you meet the collector-insurance requirements or, once that route is available to the relevant cohort, the fewer-than-1,000-miles-per-calendar-year threshold.
- BAR procedure: Look for BAR’s regulations and instructions on qualification and documentation before treating the vehicle as exempt.
- Registration event: Check whether the exemption applies to the specific event—such as renewal or transfer of ownership—and your circumstances.
A separate lowrider measure
California also signed AB 2541, which establishes a Lowrider specialized license plate program. That is separate legislation; it does not create or define the Smog Check exemption in SB 1392. The Governor’s announcement covers both measures: September 16, 2026 announcement.
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