(FOX40.com) – Bills eliminating smog checks on some classic cars have passed through Congress with the help of famous car enthusiast Jayleno.
Cars for collectors, who are at least 35 years old, are currently exempt from some of the smog check tests, but assembly bill 712, introduced by Sen. Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield), must be tested every other year or when the vehicle is moved to a new owner.
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California law defines a “collector’s automobile” as “used primarily in shows, parades, charity functions, displays, maintenance and preservation historical exhibitions, and is primarily owned by collectors, not used for transportation.
“These classic cars are rarely driven, carefully maintained, and make up only a small portion of the cars on the road. They are usually owned due to their historical importance and collector’s value,” the Grove office said. “Exempting them from biennial smog checks will strengthen California’s ‘automotive culture’ by helping to preserve these historic treasures. ”
According to Grove’s Office, longtime talk show host Jay Leno will be attending an event at the State Capitol on Tuesday to support AB 712 before hearing later that day.
The bill has several bipartisan support, including Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Dave Corteto (D-Silicon Vally), who co-authored the bill.
The bill also gains opposition from the California Air Pollution Control Officers Association. This states that driving an older car in a year will contribute more air pollution than the new car contributes to its lifespan.
“… Data from the California Air Resources Board shows that the new 1982 passenger cars show NOX emissions about 97 times higher than the new 2025 model year cars,” the group said. “In the current calendar year, assuming that a 1982 vehicle is smog check compliant, it emits about 123 times the NOX emissions of a passenger car in 2025… Assuming that a 1982 vehicle is driven at 123 times the NOX emissions, it corresponds to a 2025 passenger car being driven to 369,000 miles.”
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