California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 1392 into law on September 16, officially putting the legislation known as “Leno’s Law” on the books. The new law expands California’s Smog Check exemptions to certain collector vehicles built between 1976 and 1985.
While much of the attention has focused on classic cars, the law could also have an impact on owners of vintage 4x4s. That includes everything from Toyota Land Cruisers and pickups to Jeep CJs, International Scouts, Chevrolet Blazers, GMC Jimmys, Ford Broncos, and other older trucks and SUVs that are still being maintained and driven today.
READ MORE: CVT Returns to Its Roots with Original Owner & Founder
Leno’s Law: There’s a Catch!
California currently exempts vehicles manufactured before the 1976 model year from Smog Check requirements. Leno’s Law does not simply move that cutoff to 1985. Instead, it creates a phased exemption for qualifying collector vehicles.
Beginning January 1, 2028, qualifying 1976 through 1980 model-year vehicles will become eligible. Another model year will be added each year until 2033, when qualifying 1985 vehicles are included.
There is a catch. Simply owning a 40- or 50-year-old vehicle does not automatically make it exempt. The law is aimed at collector vehicles with limited use, with eligibility tied to requirements such as collector-car insurance or a future DMV process for vehicles driven fewer than 1,000 miles annually.
Using Your Vintage 4×4
Unlike a collector car that might spend most of its time in a garage, plenty of vintage 4x4s are still used for camping trips, trail runs, Forest Service roads, and other recreational use. The California Off-Road Vehicle Association (CORVA) has already raised questions about how the new law will apply to these vehicles. CORVA notes that SB 1392 does not specifically prohibit off-highway use, although collector insurance policies may have their own restrictions.
There are also questions about modified vehicles. A 40-year-old Land Cruiser, Jeep, or pickup may have an engine swap, suspension upgrades, larger tires, or decades of other modifications. Leno’s Law should not be viewed as a blanket exemption that suddenly makes previously noncompliant emissions modifications legal.
There is still time for the details to be sorted out before the first exemptions take effect in 2028. For California owners of qualifying classic 4x4s, however, Leno’s Law could eventually make it a little easier to keep these older rigs on the road and trail.
