Newsom signs phased smog exemption for collector cars

What the law changes

Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed Senate Bill 1392, commonly called “Leno’s Law,” creating a limited exemption from California’s smog-certification rules for qualifying collector vehicles.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2028, officially registered collector vehicles made before the 1981 model year will no longer need a smog compliance certificate. The cutoff will advance by one model year annually until Jan. 1, 2033, when qualifying vehicles made before the 1986 model year will be covered.

A vehicle must have collector-car insurance or be driven fewer than 1,000 miles during a calendar year to qualify for the exemption. Newsom’s office said qualifying vehicles account for a very small portion of California’s overall vehicle fleet.

How the measure reached Newsom

State Sens. Dave Cortese, a San Jose Democrat, and Shannon Grove, a Bakersfield Republican, introduced SB 1392 on Feb. 20, 2026. The measure followed an earlier proposal, Senate Bill 712, that stalled in the Senate Appropriations Committee in 2025.

Jay Leno, the former “Tonight Show” host and a collector-car advocate, supported both efforts. Newsom signed SB 1392 at Leno’s garage, with Leno present.

Supporters pointed to smog-certification costs exceeding and waits of up to eight months for some vintage vehicles. Newsom also signed Assembly Bill 2541, creating a specialty license plate honoring California’s lowrider heritage, and Senate Bill 1069, establishing a faster review framework for manufacturers seeking state approval to sell aftermarket parts.