Classic Cars for Sale in Los Angeles, CA (2024)

FAQs

What classic cars are exempt from smog in California? ›

What vehicles do not require a Smog Check? Gasoline-powered vehicles, hybrid vehicles, and alternative-fuel vehicles that are model-year 1975 and older.

The vehicle must be insured as a collector car and must meet one of the following requirements: The vehicle is at least 35 model-years old. (Health and Safety Code section 44011) The vehicle is at least 25 model-years old with historical vehicle license plates.

Classic cars can be a risky investment. Even if you purchase a model that significantly increases in value after you buy it, you may still put more money into it with repairs and maintenance costs. Additionally, collector trends are unpredictable, so you can't bank on a specific model dramatically increasing in value.

Your vehicle does not need a smog inspection if your:

Gasoline-powered vehicle is a 1975 year model or older (This includes motorcycles and trailers.) Diesel-powered vehicle is a 1997 and older year model OR with a Gross Vehicle Weight of more than 14,000 pounds.

California describes a “classic car” as a vehicle that is at least 25 years old. This distinction is made due to the fact that cars built before 1975 are excused from the California Smog Certification Program.

Availability: Some classic Mustang models only had a few dozen or hundred units produced. As time passes, the number of original units decreases due to accidents or regular wear. The rarer the Mustang, the more it costs.

Simply put, the USA's “25-Year Import Rule” regulates the importation of foreign vehicles into the United States. It stipulates that a vehicle must be at least 25 years old before it becomes eligible for import and deemed street-legal for use on American roads.

What is the sales tax on a classic car in California? ›

California Sales Tax on Car Purchases

According to the Sales Tax Handbook, the California sales tax for vehicles is 7.5 percent. Of this, 1.25 percent goes to the applicable county government. Districts, cities, and other local government entities may collect additional taxes up to 2.5 percent.

California is continuing its push to clean up its air by trying to block more older vehicles from staying on its roads. But unlike earlier versions, classic cars still will be allowed to cruise the California highways.

Before daily driving a classic car, you'll need to make sure the car is roadworthy with regular inspections and preventative maintenance. Certain steps might help lower your risks on the road, but a classic car may still carry significant safety concerns because of its age.

A detrimental element that will quickly ruin your classic beauty is a salty or muddy road. Just a few rides on roads salted for snow can cause serious rust damage to your car's undercarriage and paint job. Allowing too much mud or road grime to collect on your classic can lead to serious corrosion as well.

Note that classic cars can break down more frequently than modern cars. It's not so bad if you only take your classic car out for a spin for short drives on the weekend, but it can be a pain if you're a fan of taking long, cross-country trips.

The California Smog Check Program requires vehicles that were manufactured in 1976 or later to participate in the biennial (every two years) smog check program in participating counties.

In order to qualify for the waiver, the owner must first spend at least $650 on repairs. whose vehicle has failed a smog test qualify for $500 toward emissions-related repairs.

Summary: This bill would exempt motor vehicles manufactured between 1976 and 1983 from Smog Check if the owner can provide proof that the vehicle is insured as a collector car. Exemption currently applies to pre-1976 vehicles.

A vintage car is one that was manufactured between 1919 and 1930. An antique car is any car manufactured in 1975 or earlier (older than 45 years old). The classic car is a vehicle manufactured in the 1990s or earlier (at least 20 years old).