California car collectors are watching closely as Senate Bill 712, nicknamed Leno’s Law, makes its way through the state legislature. Introduced by State Senator Shannon Grove, the bill could significantly ease restrictions for owners of classic vehicles — but it’s also raising questions about how it balances with public health and air quality goals.
What is Leno’s Law?
Leno’s Law proposes a major update to California’s smog inspection rules by exempting vehicles 35 years or older from mandatory smog checks. Currently, only vehicles from 1975 and earlier qualify for the exemption. Under existing law, any vehicle 1976 and newer must undergo a biennial smog inspection.
If passed, this legislation would automatically shift the exemption forward each year, allowing more cars to age into eligibility without needing to undergo regular smog checks. For example, cars from 1990 would be smog-exempt by 2025.
Who’s Backing the Bill?
Notably, SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) is backing the bill, recognizing its potential to benefit the automotive aftermarket industry, which contributes tens of billions to California’s economy. For car collectors, customizers, and restoration shops, fewer smog restrictions mean more freedom to restore and enjoy older vehicles without worrying about emissions compliance.
What’s Changing?
Beyond the core exemption, the bill has seen ongoing revisions, including discussions about removing certain insurance requirements for these vehicles. Supporters argue that these updates would reduce red tape for hobbyists and collectors without significantly affecting California’s overall air quality.
The Other Side of the Conversation
Of course, California’s smog laws exist for good reason. Air quality directly impacts public health, especially in congested areas. Opponents of the bill argue that rolling back smog checks could harm air quality. However, supporters point out that these vehicles are typically driven sparingly and contribute only marginally to emissions compared to daily drivers.
In many ways, Leno’s Law simply brings logic to the system — adjusting the exemption forward as time passes rather than locking it to a fixed 1975 cutoff. After all, the 35-year rule would still leave plenty of modern vehicles subject to smog checks.
What This Means for Collectors
For car collectors, this could be a meaningful change. The bill would make it easier to legally own and drive youngtimers — vehicles from the 1980s and 1990s that are rapidly gaining value and collector interest. Think Japanese sports cars, early German performance models, and classic American muscle.
Thinking About Financing a Classic?
With potential changes like Leno’s Law on the horizon, now is a great time to consider financing your next collector car. Woodside Credit specializes in providing low monthly payments on classic and collector vehicles. Whether you’re adding a vintage Porsche, a 90s JDM icon, or a Detroit classic to your garage, Woodside offers the lowest payments in America along with valuation expertise hard to find anywhere else.