Leno’s Law: Hot Rods and Classic Cars to Get Smog Check Reprieve in New Bill

A bill that would remove all smog check requirements for cars that are 35 years or older and insured as a collector vehicle was introduced in the Senate this week, with former talk show host and classic car enthusiast Jay Leno further backing the bill as a sponsor.

Senate Bill 712, authored by Senator Shannon Grove (R-San Diego), would specifically exempt a collector motor vehicle from the smog check requirement if the vehicle is at least 35 model years old and proof is submitted that the motor vehicle is insured as a collector motor vehicle.

Senator Grove authored SB 712, also known as “Leno’s Law” because of current smog check requirements hindering classic car owners. Currently there is only a partial smog check ban in place for cars made before 1976, which limits how much Californians can drive some cars. According to the bill, there is a severe shortage of smog test equipment that can test older vehicles as well, with owners of cars built before year 2000 struggling to find appropriate shops. In addition, the aftermarket parts industry has struggled in California in recent years, with much of their business going toward making and supplying parts for older cars.

As a result, many classic car owners and aftermarkets parts owners and workers have left California for more classic car friendly states nearby. Wanting to curb this, keep California’s reputation as a classic car state, and help keep the huge aftermarket parts industry worth billions, Grove brought SB 712 to the Senate.

“California has a rich automotive heritage, with some of the first classic cars rolling off assembly lines right here in our state,” said Senator Grove in a statement and on X this week. “These rolling pieces of history are more than just vehicles—they have strong cultural ties in our communities and supply thousands of jobs in the aftermarket parts industry. Senate Bill 712 will update the current law to include all classic cars that are 35 years or older, allowing enthusiasts to enjoy their hobby without burdensome restrictions that are driving some collectors and industry businesses out of the state.”

“California’s rich classic car culture, sparked by the post-war hot rod boom and boosted by Hollywood’s love for chrome and horsepower, has made it a paradise for enthusiasts like me. From the start, California has been a driving force in shaping car culture, with deep ties to classic cars and a global reputation as a hub for these timeless machines,” added Jay Leno. “California’s smog check laws for classic cars need to be updated—they vary too much from state to state, and California’s rules don’t match up with neighboring ones. Our classic cars are only driven for special occasions, weekend drives and car shows. I am excited to work with Senator Grove on SB 712 to make it simpler for us to preserve these pieces of history.”

Others noted that many likely detractors of the bill would face tough arguments from bill supporters, with many hidden benefits buried within the bill helping supporters.

“So, one benefit is classic car insurance,” explained Los Angeles classic car dealer Franco Bernardi to the Globe on Thursday. “Classic car insurance is a lot cheaper. At the very least, you’re saving several hundreds a year. So this bill has that as a bonus. Another benefit is helping out the film industry, specifically, period pieces. Places renting these cars out for shoots won’t have to spend as much on overhead now, with the savings more than likely going down to the customer. It’s not much, but it can make shoots just a bit more cheaper in California and can help with an industry comeback.

“Third benefit here are poorer drivers who are driving around these older cars that are still going. You’ll see these on the road here. Cars from the 90s or 80s still managing to chug along because buying a new or used car would be too expensive. Some of these can fall under the classic car designation, saving them money on insurance. So some poor people barely scrapping by driving a really old car can find some relief.

“And, in this age of computerized cars and diagnostics requiring screens, this keeps the old fashioned mechanic alive to some extent in California. A lot of more independent garages are going out of business, and this would help them survive to some extent. Classic cars are a fraction of what is on the road, so there isn’t really much environmental risk anyway. There is so much right with this bill.”