CA Smog exemption

[rwtennent]

Jay Leno is now sponsoring SB 712. Hopefully that helps! It's now being referred to as "Leno's Law" I guess they never watched School House Rock!

 

[Dr_Snooz]

They have to do something, really. The notion that an old car with worn out smog controls is somehow better for the environment than something with modern fuel management is preposterous. How can a 30-year-old carb with a lot of vacuum leaks ever be better than the worst aftermarket EFI system? It's nonsense. There's the added problem of maintaining such a rigorous inspection regime on a dwindling pool of old cars. The shops are pushing back. The counties are also pushing back by reducing standards. My county no longer does dyno testing on my '89s, nor do they test for NOx anymore. Time is on our side as there's no way they can keep doing these time intensive, expensive tests on pre-OBD2 cars.

I haven't looked into collector car insurance, but I have a hunch that a giant fire is about to break out in the CA insurance market, which will burn down a lot of the big players. That might allow for some smaller entrants with sense to offer collector insurance to guys who want to daily their classics.

Shannon Grove wrote the bill, and she's good people. You can tie all the rest of them together, criminal Dems and cowardly Publicans, at the bottom of the sea. Sen. Grove has done a lot of work on human trafficking, and she has my undying support.

 

[crab74]

The bill in question is SB712 not SB12. Google SB712, it reads that collector cars 35 years or older are currently only partially exempt from smog checks. The bill removes the requirement that collector vehicles comply with exhaust emission standards for their specific model year and pass fuel cap and liquid leak inspections. This bill would make collector cars completely exempt as long as they are at least 35 years old and are insured as collector vehicles. So just the two requirements, 35 years or older, and insured as collector vehicles.

Sorry for the typo, I meant SB712 not SB12. You can read the full bill text here:

SB712 | California 2025-2026 | Smog check: motor vehicles: exemption. - Legislative Tracking | PolicyEngage

California SB712 2025-2026 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...

trackbill.com

Correct me if I'm wrong, but as far as I can tell Section 1(a)(3) keeps the exemption for vehicles manufactured before 1976.

 

[mlsceo]

Sorry for the typo, I meant SB712 not SB12. You can read the full bill text here:

SB712 | California 2025-2026 | Smog check: motor vehicles: exemption. - Legislative Tracking | PolicyEngage

California SB712 2025-2026 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...

trackbill.com

Correct me if I'm wrong, but as far as I can tell Section 1(a)(3) keeps the exemption for vehicles manufactured before 1976.

Yes, I had read that previously. And yes, SB712 leaves the pre-76 exemption in place. The bill is about collector cars, not old cars. They're not trying to make all old cars smog exempt. They are trying to make collector cars smog exempt. Two different animals. I wasn't disagreeing with you.

 

[Finkaire]

What we want to get rid of is CARB

 

[DoubleDingo]

What we want to get rid of is CARB

YEP!

 

[CountKrunk]

The most environmentally friendly thing you can with a vehicle is use it as long as possible. Hopefully they figure this out for you guys.

No emissions out here in rural VA

 

[Ricko1966]

The most environmentally friendly thing you can with a vehicle is use it as long as possible. Hopefully they figure this out for you guys.

No emissions out here in rural VA

They just aren't testing in rural VA.

 

[Scruffy49]

Or in the Memphis metroplex… They used to test registered within city limits. Sort of… Most of the testers could not actually properly use the equipment.

Remember kids, reading is fundamental…

 

[Jimbarry]

Got this off of an internet search so........ maybe accurate maybe not.
Key Provisions of the Proposed Exemption

• Gradual Rollout: The bill creates a phased-in exemption starting with vehicles manufactured before the 1981 model year.
• • Expanding Cutoff: It would add an additional model year each calendar year. By 2032, all collector vehicles manufactured before the 1986 model year would be exempt.
  • Strict Usage Requirements: To prevent loopholes, the law targets true collector cars—not daily drivers. The requirement for classic car insurance means vehicles face restrictions such as low annual mileage caps.
  • Existing Exemptions Protected: The new law is entirely optional and does not change the existing rolling-cutoff exemption already in place for pre-1976 vehicles.