What everyone is getting wrong about Leno's Law

A new law in California relaxing emissions tests for classic cars is being hailed as a “landmark” victory for the car community and common sense. But it’s not what it seems.  California has the toughest emissions standards in the country, requiring any car made after 1975 to pass a biennial smog test in order to be registered. By design, the system forces thousands of old cars off the road every year as the cost of compliance rises—even if the vehicle runs just fine, a stubborn check engine light will cause it to fail. Now, a group backed by industry lobbyists and Jay Leno has succeeded in changing the law to make it easier for owners to keep their classics. It’s being celebrated as an unprecedented win—but in reality, it's not going to do much at all to fix the state’s broken approach to emissions tests, or help the people who are affected the most. This week The Drive's Editor-in-Chief Kyle Cheromcha and Director of Content and Product Joel Feder separate fact from fiction and break down why Leno's Law isn't the solution everyone is claiming. Stories mentioned in today's episode: ‘Leno’s Law’ Finally Passes: Here’s What That Really Means for Classic Car Owners Video: The Problem with US Emissions testing (YouTube) 00:00 Intro 04:34 The fight over smog testing 8:54 How the system works 12:25 Devil's in the details 14:51 Long walk to Leno's Law 17:14 Missed opportunity 20:30 Where do we go from here? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices