Leno's Bill / Emissions Exemptions !

[1972coronet]

I'll let this article speak for its self :

California Smog Reform: Classic Cars Get A New Lease on Life

[Mark]

On one hand, it makes considerable sense.  It will keep a lot of occasionally driven vehicles on the road, generating registration fees every year.  Maintenance items sold will also generate sales tax revenue.

On the other hand, it is still California we're talking about.

The details differ from state to state, but here in NY if I had several collector cars I'd probably get a dealer/transporter license plate.  Those can be used on any car, said car doesn't have to have a current inspection or registration on it.  Too, we pay sales tax on used cars when they are registered (but I don't know how far I'd want to push the sales tax thing).  You do need to carry substantial liability insurance with those plates though, and to be a "dealer" you might have to buy/sell X number of vehicles each year.  I did know a couple of guys who operated an AMC franchise a bunch of years ago; in some years they only sold one or two new vehicles, not sure how many used cars they moved in a given year but it wasn't many.  

[Ace-Garageguy]

I hope the bill passes. A little rationality as to how vehicles that contribute a miniscule, almost nonexistent amount to "pollution" would be a good thing.

The state I'm in has very reasonable vintage vehicle emissions and registration laws, as does the one I'm moving to.

I'll refrain from further remarks about California that would be blatantly political.

 

[Aaronw]

This bill is a good thing, but the article grossly overstates the difficulty of owning a "classic" car in California.

The current laws only require that the factory smog equipment works. Where the real issue lays is in modifying cars, so this will help there. A '55 Chevy is essentially smog exempt, so not difficult to modify but trying to add power to a 1985 Camaro can be more challenging since it still has to pass smog.

The idea that it is difficult to keep your pristine factory stock 1986 Buick Regal on the road is pretty silly. I say this as the owner of a 1985 Volvo 240. I have had zero issues keeping that car legal. Now if I wanted to stuff an LT1 under the hood, there are some hoops to go through but it can be done. This bill should help in the second case.

Edited March 8 by Aaronw

[Mark]

My understanding of CA emissions regulations is that, when the car and engine are of different year of manufacture, the car must then meet the regulations applicable to the newer of the two.  

There are difficulties in finding correct parts for some newer cars, particularly GM vehicles.  They have been discontinuing many mechanical parts for older vehicles.  I have read about owners of Nineties Corvettes having trouble getting parts for the ABS brake system.  The emissions and fuel system parts are a bigger issue for them in CA, as only OEM items are allowed.  If the OEM discontinued them, you are then limited to the existing supply.  The sellers of those parts will know that and raise prices accordingly.

[RSchnell]

3 hours ago, Mark said:

On one hand, it makes considerable sense.  It will keep a lot of occasionally driven vehicles on the road, generating registration fees every year.  Maintenance items sold will also generate sales tax revenue.

On the other hand, it is still California we're talking about.

The details differ from state to state, but here in NY if I had several collector cars I'd probably get a dealer/transporter license plate.  Those can be used on any car, said car doesn't have to have a current inspection or registration on it.  Too, we pay sales tax on used cars when they are registered (but I don't know how far I'd want to push the sales tax thing).  You do need to carry substantial liability insurance with those plates though, and to be a "dealer" you might have to buy/sell X number of vehicles each year.  I did know a couple of guys who operated an AMC franchise a bunch of years ago; in some years they only sold one or two new vehicles, not sure how many used cars they moved in a given year but it wasn't many.  

I did this very thing in Florida years ago. I was financially involved in a heavy truck export business. We had fleet coverage insurance and several dealer license plates. At the time I had 9 running & driving cars. Only 3 had registration in my name. Everything else I used a dealer tag. Never had a problem!

[Daddyfink]

 

[Daddyfink]

 

[niteowl7710]

On 3/8/2025 at 9:00 AM, Mark said:

On one hand, it makes considerable sense.  It will keep a lot of occasionally driven vehicles on the road, generating registration fees every year.  Maintenance items sold will also generate sales tax revenue.

On the other hand, it is still California we're talking about.

The details differ from state to state, but here in NY if I had several collector cars I'd probably get a dealer/transporter license plate.  Those can be used on any car, said car doesn't have to have a current inspection or registration on it.  Too, we pay sales tax on used cars when they are registered (but I don't know how far I'd want to push the sales tax thing).  You do need to carry substantial liability insurance with those plates though, and to be a "dealer" you might have to buy/sell X number of vehicles each year.  I did know a couple of guys who operated an AMC franchise a bunch of years ago; in some years they only sold one or two new vehicles, not sure how many used cars they moved in a given year but it wasn't many.  

PA cracked down on what were pretty lax regulations on what it took to get a Dealer's License (to get Dealer Tags). It's to the point now where you basicly need a physical location that you'd actually be selling cars from to be approved.

Used to be if you had a desk, 3 chairs, a phone line dedicated to the "business", a 4' x 6' sign for the business and enough space to display 3 vehicles without the doors touching when opened, you too could be a used car dealer in the Commonwealth. 🤣

[Daddyfink]

 

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[Daddyfink]