No. The Sacramento cruise on April 8, 2025, was a rally supporting a proposed exemption; it did not make any classic car exempt from California Smog Check requirements. Whether a car needs an inspection depends on its model year, fuel type and registration event, among other details.
What the Sacramento cruise supported
On April 8, 2025, Jay Leno drove Sen. Shannon Grove past the state Capitol in a 1976 Pontiac Trans-Am as classic-car enthusiasts gathered on 10th Street ahead of a hearing on Senate Bill 712, known as “Leno’s Law.” The proposal would have exempted vehicles 35 years or older from California’s Smog Check program. The report described bipartisan support and named Sen. Dave Cortese as a co-author. The Sacramento Bee’s event report
Leno said at a news conference on the Capitol steps: “I try to be the typical California enthusiast during the week. We try to do things the right way, but it’s just hard when you have a vehicle that’s not modified in any way. I hope you get behind us on this bill and at least make us equal to our neighboring states.” The Sacramento Bee’s report and quotation
The bill’s proposed 35-year threshold should not be confused with California’s existing exemptions. The rally was advocacy, not a change to the rules. The available information does not establish SB 712’s final legislative disposition.
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Does Sacramento’s location mean a classic car needs a smog inspection?
Sacramento County is on the DMV’s list of counties where a Smog Check is generally required for registration renewal. That geographic rule does not override exemptions based on an individual vehicle’s age, fuel type or other qualifying details. California DMV: Smog inspections
California’s Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) says gasoline, hybrid and alternative-fuel vehicles model year 1976 and newer generally need Smog Checks. Diesel vehicles model year 1998 and newer generally need them. Listed exemptions include:
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- Gasoline vehicles model year 1975 and older.
- Diesel vehicles model year 1997 and older.
- Qualifying diesel vehicles above 14,000 pounds GVWR.
- Electric vehicles and motorcycles.
For the complete categories and exceptions, consult BAR’s Smog Check requirements and exemptions. The proposed 35-year rolling exemption is not among the existing categories described there.
Check the type of registration event
A vehicle’s requirements can differ depending on whether it is being renewed, sold or transferred, or registered in California for the first time. Do not assume that an exemption for one transaction applies to another.
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| Situation | General rule in BAR guidance |
|---|---|
| Registration renewal | Gasoline, hybrid and alternative-fuel vehicles eight model years and newer do not need an inspection; a smog abatement fee applies instead. Sacramento is among the counties where renewal inspections are generally required for vehicles that are not exempt. |
| Change of ownership | Gasoline, hybrid and alternative-fuel vehicles four model years and newer do not need an inspection; a smog transfer fee applies instead. A private seller generally provides a smog certification, subject to exceptions such as qualifying newer vehicles and immediate-family transfers. |
| First California registration | A Smog Check is generally required, including for a vehicle purchased or previously registered out of state; check the rules for the particular vehicle and circumstances. |
These are general rules, not a determination for every vehicle. Check the current DMV notice and BAR’s detailed guidance for the vehicle’s model year, fuel type and transaction.
What to do if your notice calls for a Smog Check
- Read the DMV notice. It identifies the requirement for your registration and whether you must use a STAR station.
- Choose an authorized station. BAR describes test-only, test-and-repair and STAR stations. The notice indicates whether STAR is required; confirm that a station can perform the inspection your notice calls for.
- Ask about the price before testing. Station prices vary and are not regulated. The station must provide an estimate and charge an $8.25 Smog Check certificate fee. BAR says an inspection usually takes about 30 minutes.
- Keep track of the certificate. A passing certificate is sent electronically to DMV and is valid for 90 days.
These inspection details are explained by BAR; DMV also provides Smog Check station information.
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If the vehicle fails
Review the inspection report and ask the station what needs attention. If repairs are required, BAR describes a Consumer Assistance Program that may provide repair help to eligible owners, as well as Referee services for unusual inspection circumstances. Eligibility and the appropriate service depend on the case; see BAR’s guidance.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the 1% estimate means—and what it does not
During the April 8, 2025 Senate Transportation Committee hearing, Sen. Shannon Grove cited a DMV estimate that vehicles manufactured between 1976 and 1991 made up about 1% of California’s 30 million registered cars. That is Grove’s attribution of a DMV estimate in the hearing transcript, not a directly checked DMV publication. Senate Transportation Committee hearing transcript
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How to treat reports of a newer proposal
A search result reported that 2026 Senate Bill 1392 passed the Legislature and was sent to the Governor, but that report alone does not establish whether it was signed or vetoed, or when it would take effect. Do not treat it as a current exemption without checking the official California legislative record for SB 1392 for final status and effective date.
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