Smog check: exemption.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Greg Wallis

Expands the smog-check exemption to any vehicle 30 or more model years old (instead of pre-1976), lowering biennial tests and costs for older car owners.

In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.

#smogcheck #exemption

Purpose

AB 1368 amends California’s smog check exemption rules to broaden which older vehicles are exempt from the biennial smog inspection requirement. The bill replaces the current exemption for “all motor vehicles manufactured prior to the 1976 model year” with an exemption for “any motor vehicle that is 30 or more model years old.”

Key provisions

Amends Health and Safety Code §44011(a) to change one exemption:

Current: exempts vehicles manufactured prior to the 1976 model year.
Proposed: exempts any motor vehicle that is 30 or more model years old.

Makes nonsubstantive conforming edits to related statutory language.

Does not alter existing collector-motor-vehicle provisions (which allow certain collector vehicles — at least 35 model years old and meeting specific requirements — to be exempt from parts of the smog test).

Retains other statutory exemptions and exceptions (e.g., for motorcycles until test procedures exist, recent registrations, diesel vehicles per existing cutoffs, out‑of‑cycle testing, vehicles previously registered out of state, specially constructed vehicles, vehicles with probable tampering, etc.).

Who is affected

Vehicle owners: Owners of vehicles that become 30 or more model years old would no longer be required to obtain the standard biennial smog check in areas covered by the program, subject to the statutory exceptions (e.g., selection for out‑of‑cycle testing).

Example: In 2025, a vehicle with model year 1995 would meet the “30 or more model years old” threshold.

Smog check stations and program administrators: Potential reduction in the number of required inspections.

Air-quality/regulatory bodies: The change could affect the universe of vehicles subject to emissions testing and thus state emissions monitoring and compliance considerations.

Procedural status & timeline

Introduced: February 21, 2025.

Read first time: February 24, 2025; printed February 22, 2025.

Amended and re‑referred to the Assembly Transportation Committee: March 24, 2025.

Referred/Re‑refer actions through March 25, 2025.

Committee hearing set for April 1, 2025; hearing canceled at the author’s request. Current status: In committee.

Potential considerations

Financial/emissions impacts are not specified in the bill text. Broader exemption could reduce compliance costs for some vehicle owners and reduce inspection volume for stations, while slightly shrinking the tested vehicle population used for emissions control programs. State law already contains provisions permitting the state board to limit exemptions if necessary to meet federal Clean Air Act obligations.

Bill