Senator Ted Gaines (R-El Dorado) recently announced that his Senate Bill 1239, which would exempt collector vehicles manufactured prior to the 1981 model year from biennial smog-check inspections, passed out of the Senate Committee on Transportation and Housing with bipartisan support and is now on its way to the Senate Committee on Appropriations.

“Collector cars and trucks are a unique and important part of California history and need to be preserved,” said Senator Gaines. “Extending the exemption to 1981 is a common-sense way to encourage that these vehicles remain on display for all to see, drive and enjoy.”

Current law allows smog-check exemptions for classic or collector cars for vehicles model year 1975 or older. However, there are many vehicles that were built after 1975 that are currently owned and operated as collector cars, such as late seventies and early eighties Corvettes, Mustangs and Mopars. Many of these vehicles are featured in classic car shows and community parades and events throughout California that help support the economy.

In order to qualify for the exemption, owners of classic and collector vehicles must insure their cars with collector car insurance. Collector car insurance places specific mileage restrictions on the vehicles, as dictated by the insurance company. Vehicles are often limited to a usage cap of around 5,000 miles in a year. This ensures the integrity of the vehicle stays intact, as well as minimizes the environmental impact that the smog check regulates.

According to the Association of California Car Clubs, there are approximately 162,000 vehicles with model years covered by this bill. Compared to the approximately 27 million motor vehicles in California, this bill will provide an exemption to just over one half of one percent of vehicles on the road today.

Senator Ted Gaines represents the 1st Senate District, which includes all or parts of Alpine, El Dorado, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, Shasta, Sierra and Siskiyou counties.