The economic downturn may be kicking up more than just concerns about finances these days, as some counties are increasingly likely to save money in paving costs by transforming local streets into gravel roadways.

For those looking at used cars in New York and other states, a new paint job or recently remodeled car could bear the brunt of the cost-saving measures which are one option for governments looking to save money.

In Michigan, CBS affiliate WWMT says that some rural roads are now going unpaved, a trend that has begun to extend from the state where it is most popular.

“Our survey results indicate the accuracy of this predication,” said John Niemela, County Road Association of Michigan director in a report on roads in the state. “We are literally reverting to the stone age,” as state funding has dropped and maintenance work is either reduced or avoided entirely.

Road conditions like those should be avoided by those who may have gotten new paint jobs for used cars in New York, several paint companies say, because the gravel can kick up and erode the clearcoat finish.