Are pre-1976 cars exempt from smog?

Yes. Gasoline vehicles model year 1975 and older are exempt from California's smog check; diesel vehicles 1997 and older are exempt too.

• Gasoline: 1975 and older (model year) exempt
• Diesel: 1997 and older exempt
• The cutoff is fixed by model year — the rolling 30-year exemption ended in 2005
• Exempt vehicles still register normally; no smog certificate is requested

Per BAR (bar.ca.gov/smog-check) and CA Health & Safety Code §44011.