Anybody mulling over the purchase of a used car may want to make up their mind quickly. Kelley Blue Book expects prices of pre-owned vehicles to rise during the first quarter of 2012, and now may be the best time to head to New Jersey State Auto Auction to make a purchase.

Though prices have remained relatively flat throughout the first few weeks of the year, experts believe that the trend will not continue. In fact, forecasters say prices could rise as much as 5 percent over the next couple months, so it's best for shoppers to act fast. Certain cars will tend to be a bit more expensive than others, so choosing wisely is especially important as well.

"Consumers eyeing one of the many highly acclaimed redesigned 2011 model-year vehicles for their next used car should be prepared to pay a significant premium," said Alec Gutierrez, senior market analyst of automotive insights for Kelley Blue Book. "For example, the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze and Kia Optima currently maintain a premium higher than 40 percent versus the 2010 model-year counterpart, significantly outperforming the Honda Accord and Toyota Corolla, which weren't redesigned for model-year 2011."

The reason behind the expected price increase lies in the fact that many people are holding onto their vehicles longer than ever rather than trading them in. As a result, supply of used cars has dropped considerably while demand is still high.

Heading to New Jersey State Auto Auction can help remedy both situations. Thanks to it being an AutoTrader.com trade-in marketplace dealer, New Jersey Auto offers its customers the opportunity to get a substantial return on their car. Not only that, but it has a wide variety of makes and models at affordable prices.