Buying a car isn't like purchasing a new pair of pants. It's a significantly larger investment that will hopefully stay with you for years, so you want to make the best choice before driving away in your fresh set of wheels.

Another difference between cars and pants? Cars are exponentially more complicated. While you only need to think about size, price and durability when considering which new pair of trousers to bring home, there are many other factors that can influence your choice of car. Knowing what to look for – and what to look out for – can be the difference between the car of your dreams and a lemon. Every car and, by extension, shopping experience, will be different, but here are four factors that tend to be more important when choosing a vehicle. 

If you want to minimize your car payments, you'll need either a sizable down payment or a decent credit history.

1. Cost
This is the big one. In fact, chances are price is the most important factor you're considering when you shop around for a vehicle. But you should understand what exactly cost means within the context of buying a car. 

Sticker price is a big part of a car's cost, but what's more significant is the financing. Of course it stands to reason that a higher sticker price means that you'll likely need to either make a larger down payment or borrow more money from the bank, both of which can have their own challenges. Credit.com noted that it's generally better to make as large a down payment as possible, as this will not only reduce the amount of money you'll need to borrow to cover the difference, but will also help keep your interest rate lower. 

If you can't afford the up-front cost of a larger down payment, you'll need a decent credit score to procure a loan at a reasonable interest rate. If your credit leaves something to be desired, or if you have no credit history at all, you still aren't sunk. It's possible to procure a loan from a dealer with no credit, but that likely means you'll need to provide more up front. If all else fails, you can consider having a relative with good credit cosign your loan documents as a guarantor. 

2. Fuel economy
Once you've sorted out your down payment and your loan, you better hope you've got some money leftover – you'll need it for gas. Fuel costs are an inevitable part of car ownership, but if you're smart when you're shopping you can reduce them. 

Fortunately, fuel economy has achieved buzzword status in the automotive industry, and a growing number of fuel-efficient cars are hitting the market every year. Many newer models boast better gas mileage, but if you're shopping for a used car you still need to pay attention. There are resources available online to make this decision easier. Fueleconomy.gov is a government-sponsored site that not only offers useful information on hybrid cars and fuel efficiency in general, but also allows users to compare cars side-by-side to see which offers more bang for your gas station buck.

3. Cost of ownership
Wait a minute – we already talked about cost earlier, right? Not quite. A car's cost of ownership, also referred to as its total cost to own, focuses not on how much a car costs to buy, but rather how much money you can expect to spend while you own it. 

This isn't quite an exact science, as cost of ownership comprises many factors. It can take into account things like insurance premiums, fuel efficiency and repair estimates based on the reliability of your given make and model. The good news is there are sites that have demystified the process with online cost of ownership calculators, which you should definitely experiment with before making your decision.

If the car you're looking at has been in an accident in the past, you'll want to know.

4. Repair history
When shopping for a used car, it's good to keep in mind that you aren't the first person to own it. Additionally, you don't know anything about the previous owner's driving habits, accident history or any number of other factors that can have significant effects on how well your car runs. You should always ask to see the Carfax report when considering a used car, as it will list any major repairs the car has received. However, this is a useful tool, but it's not foolproof – only repairs that get officially logged by a mechanic or dealer make it into the report, so there's no guarantee that you're seeing the whole picture. That said, it's a good place to start. 

While there's really no way to circumvent this problem completely, there are steps you can take to minimize risk as much as possible. One of the best ways to squeeze out some extra peace of mind is by limiting your search to manufacturer-certified pre-owned vehicles. These are cars that have been been backed by the manufacturer for quality, which means they have received an extensive inspection before being placed on the lot. Many certified pre-owned cars also come with extended manufacturer's warranty.

Of course, even certified cars can have mechanical issues, so you'll still want to have your car inspected by a third party before purchasing it. Remember: Just because a car looks good on the outside doesn't mean it's in top condition. Only a multi-point inspection can reveal that information.

When you're ready to begin shopping for a high-quality used car, head to New Jersey State Auto Auction. Your dream car is likely waiting for you among the hundreds of Carfax-certified cars on the lot.

Hurricane Joaquin recently created some seriously wet conditions for drivers along the east cost of the U.S., from gale-force winds right down to severe thunderstorms and flash floods. You may never be more thankful for your car than when you're driving to work in a downpour, but don't let the convenience of having your own wheels distract you from the safety issues that stem from driving in the rain.

Whether it's a drizzle or a downpour, rain instantly adds extra considerations to your regular driving habits. Here are some tips for staying safe on the road while it's raining.

1. Slow down
You may have already guessed the biggest and most important tip for staying safe in the rain: slowing down. It's a simple concept – the faster you're driving, the less time you'll have to react in a potential emergency situation, such as a car spinning out of control or having a pedestrian step in front of you. What's more, driving faster can reduce the control you have over your car. In wet conditions, when roads are more slippery than usual, anything that reduces traction and your control is dangerous.

2. Check your tires
If you keep hearing about  proper tire maintenance, there's a good reason for it. Tires are one of your car's most important safety features, as they facilitate the connection between the road and your car, so it's important to make sure they stay equipped to do that essential job. If the tread on your tires is worn down, it can drastically reduce traction and control even in the best conditions, let alone sub-optimal ones like heavy rain.

Even worse, the addition of water to the road can cause you to hydroplane. This is what happens when a layer of water wedges its way in between your tires and the road, and it can reduce your control to virtually nothing. Check your tires regularly, both to ensure the tread is in good shape and the air pressure is where it should be. You can determine this by checking your car's owner manual. 

3. Turn on your headlights…
Traction issues aside, rain can also reduce visibility drastically, even in the daytime. Clouds and heavy rainfall can obscure your vision, which can compromise your safety behind the wheel. 

This is why you should turn on your headlights when it starts raining. It's not so much to illuminate the road as it is to increase other drivers' visibility of you and your car. Most newer-model cars are equipped with standard daytime running lights that switch on automatically with the ignition, but if you're driving an older vehicle you may need to turn on the lights manually.

4. …And turn off your cruise control
It may not seem like it, but driving can be tiring, especially if you're doing it for a long period of time. Advances like the now-ubiquitous cruise control are designed to alleviate that stress. But you should note that cruise control is a convenience feature meant to make your life easier, not a crutch you should use indiscriminately – especially in the rain. 

According to AAA, cruise control doesn't allow you to slow down by removing your foot from the accelerator, but only by stepping on the brake. In the rain when the roads are wet, this can contribute to you losing traction and possibly even spinning out of control.

Driving in the rain can be perfectly safe with the right knowledge and a high-quality car, like the ones you'll find at New Jersey State Auto Auction. The hundreds of Carfax-certified cars on the lot are great for drivers of all ages and experience levels looking to drive away in the vehicle of their dreams. 

Cars are among the most complicated machines that we use on a daily basis. It may not seem like it, but every time you climb into the driver's seat and turn the ignition key, you're setting into motion a complex Rube Goldberg machine of interlocking parts that all have to work in perfect harmony for your car to function the way you need it to.

Of course, you don't have to be an auto mechanic to own and operate a car – thankfully. But even the least mechanically inclined driver should brush up on a few basic maintenance tips and tricks. You don't need to become a total grease monkey, but having some fundamental car maintenance knowledge may save you some time and money later.

Engine oil
Chances are, even if you can't tell a carburetor from a crank shaft, you've had at least some experience checking or changing oil. It's perhaps one of the most basic essential maintenance operations you can perform on your car. Standard wisdom says that you should have your oil changed every 3,000 miles, but according to Edmunds, that's a rough estimate at best. Every car will be different depending on make, model, age and any number of other factors, so the source reported that the best way to get an accurate indication of when you should change your oil is to consult your owner's manual.

Of course, you can check your oil any time. There are minimum and maximum fill lines in the oil tank that you should aim to keep your levels in between. The Department of Motor Vehicles also noted that you should choose the right oil for your engine and climate. Some blends are better for cooler areas, while some thicker and heavier oils perform better in warmer climates.

Battery
Nobody likes leaving work at the end of the day only to find out that their car battery has died and they're stuck waiting for a jump from a service vehicle or a friendly passerby. The battery is part of a car that many drivers don't give too much thought to until it breaks, however.

There's more that can affect your battery than just leaving your interior lights on. For example, rusty or corroded battery contacts can also compromise its performance. Luckily this can be checked easily by popping your hood. Take a look at the battery contacts and gently wipe away any rust or corrosion.

Windshield wipers
There's no worse time to find out that your wiper blades need changing than when you're driving down the highway in a torrential downpour and you find your windshield getting increasingly streaked with every pass of the blades.

There are a few ways to tell if your wiper blades need to be changed. You can give them a quick visual once-over – any ragged or torn edges on the rubber are a sure sign that a replacement is in order. Similarly, if you notice streaking or hear a chattering or slight chirping sound when you use your wipers, that likely means you should have them replaced. NTB Tire and Service Center noted this sound indicates the wiper blades have worn down and are no longer making contact with the windshield when in use.

Replacing wiper blades is a task you should be able to do yourself just fine, but if you find yourself unsure or have never done it before, a mechanic will be happy to do it for you.

Tires
Your tires can affect many facets of your car's performance, from how well it grips the road to what kind of gas mileage you'll get when driving. Inspecting them regularly is important for both safety and economy.

When inspecting your tires, check both the tread and the air pressure. The latter can be checked with a hand-held pressure gauge that you should keep in your car at all times. Once again, refer to your owner's manual for what the desired psi for your tires should be. Your tread you can check with nothing more complicated than a quarter – just stick the edge of the coin in your tire tread. If you can see the top of George Washington's head, your tires have worn down too much and need to be replaced.

Purchasing a high-quality used car can be an exciting and liberating experience. If you're ready to find a car of your own, head to New Jersey State Auto Auction. There you'll find hundreds of Carfax-certified cars on the lot and a helpful sales staff that can put you in just the right vehicle.

It’s every driver’s worst nightmare: You walk out to the parking lot from the grocery store, library or even the office, only to discover that your car somehow isn’t where you left it. A brief moment of panic – was your car stolen? – and then the reality of the situation hits – you’ve been towed. Read the rest of this entry >>