When you’re driving in your car, a typical way to pass the time is to turn on some tunes. However, what you’re listening to may actually affect your driving skills.

Confused.com reports that listening to music could ultimately predict how well you drive. The UK website looked at specific songs and how drivers reacted to them. The experts foundthat a woman who listened to hip hop tended to drive more aggressively, while men jamming out to heavy metal increased their speed. Surprisingly,it was classical music that caused both men and women to drive more erratically than if they were not listening to music at all.

“Music that is noisy, upbeat and increases your heart rate is a deadly mix,” Dr. Simon Moore, a psychologist who reviewed the driving footage, told the news provider. “Fast beats can cause excitement and arousal that can lead people to concentrate more on the music than on the road. In addition, a fast tempo can cause people to subconsciously speed up to match the beat of the song. Also, listening to music you don’t like can cause stress and distraction and this also negatively affects driving.”

Listening to music may not onlyaffect your driving skills, it could be dangerous. The Globe and Mail reports that listening to music while driving could cause an accident, because the driver is distracted.

In the event of a car crash, you may need to find a new vehicle quick. Luckily, New Jersey Auto Auction can help, as it has a number of vehicles within its fleet. Visiting the establishment may help you find exactly what you’re looking for.

Many consumers have seen the clever commercials for Volkswagen‘s “sign and drive” deal, and apparently a few people did more than just watch. It was recently announced that the German automaker recently surpassed its American sales for the first time in 40 years.

Autoblog.com reports the company behind the VW Bug, Bus and Rabbit sold a total of 586,286 vehicles in 2012 alone, surpassing the four-decade-old record by a total of 2,899 cars. Breaking it down even further, the brand sold 438,000 in Volkswagen’s and 139,000 in Audi vehicles – an increase of 35.1 percent and 18.5 percent respectively.

Volkswagen is also behind a few ultra luxury brands including Bentley, which had a total of 2,315 sales in 2012, a growth of 23.3 percent. Close to 520 units of Lamborghinis were sold for a 52.9 percent increase, while the Bugatti was predicted to be “right on track.”

The Jetta proved to be the most popular ride in the Volkswagen lineup with 170,000 models sold, while the Passat was right behind it with 117,000 bought in 212.

“Our employees and our dealer and supplier partners have worked very hard to establish foundations for success in the U.S. market, and they deserve so much credit for setting this new record,” said Jonathan Browning, president and CEO, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. “We are pleased to see all of our brands contributing to growth and setting this new landmark.”

Those in the New Jersey/New York Area who are in the market for a Volkswagen, but who cannot afford to buy new, might want to head down to the New Jersey State Auto Auction to find a more affordable and still reliable used model. The inventory is always changing so consumers can check back frequently to find the Jetta, Passat or Golf of their dreams. Plus, every car on the lot is Carfax certified, so buyers know they’ll be getting behind the wheel of a reliable ride.

As 2103 gets underway, the sales numbers for December are beginning to trickle in, and the auto industry's success in the past year is growing more apparent. The Washington Post reports that preliminary estimates show roughly 14.5 million new vehicles were sold in 2012, which is 13 percent higher than in 2011.

It doesn't look like the trend shows any signs of slowing either, as experts from market research firm Polk as well as those at Edmunds.com are predicting that 2013 will see sales top 15 million. This is only a 6.6 percent increase according to Fox Business, but it looks as though 2013 will be a year of innovation and competition between brands.

"What's especially encouraging is the current competitive strength among the automakers," said Dr. Lacey Plache, Edmunds.com's chief economist. "Consumers will continue to benefit from exciting new models and technologies – and potentially lower prices – as automakers continue to battle for market share."

As more drivers purchase new models, the pool of available used models will grow as well. This is largely due to the fact that Edmunds expects there will be 500,000 more leases that end in 2013 than there were in 2012. The result could be an average price drop of $200 to $300 per used model this year, making it a good time for car shoppers to begin looking.

Drivers in the New York/New Jersey area who are in the market for used cars may be able to find the ride they want at NJ State Auto Auction. The dealer carries a wide selection of makes and models with a constantly changing inventory, and every vehicle on the lot is CARFAX Certified. This allows drivers to buy with confidence, as they will know that they're getting behind the wheel of a reliable ride.

New Year's Day has passed, but automotive experts are still crunching the numbers for 2012's sales, and it appears as though Ford had a very successful year. The automaker is projecting its annual sales topped 2 million units for the second year in a row. If this prediction is accurate, Ford will be the only car company to have such high numbers in American sales in 2012.

More than 25 percent of Ford's overall sales were attributed to the lineup of efficient models that feature the environmentally friendly EcoBoost engine. The engine is designed to use less gasoline than a traditional combustion engine, while still providing plenty of power. This is made possible due to a highly pressurized fuel injection system that delivers fuel directly to each combustion chamber in the engine. A typical motor first mixes the fuel with air, but the EcoBoost method helps to improve efficiency and performance while also cutting down on emissions.

"In just three years, Ford has transformed our global small car lineup and started winning over customers worldwide with vehicles that are not only fun to drive but also fuel-efficient – largely thanks to our award-winning EcoBoost engines," said Jim Farley, Ford's executive vice president of global marketing.

Since the American automaker has been using the EcoBoost engine for several years, drivers in the market for used cars may be able to find fuel-efficient vehicles as old as 2009 model year Ford cars. New Jersey State Auto Auction carries a wide selection of Ford models, and the constantly changing inventory makes it easy to find the vehicle you want. Plus, every car on the lot is CARFAX certified, so you know you'll be getting behind the wheel of a reliable ride no matter which one you choose.

The 2013 Ram 1500 was recently named the Truck of the Year by the Detroit Free Press. Mark Phelan, a distinguished automotive journalist who works for the news provider, explained that this model was chosen as the winner because it "combines workhorse capability with fuel efficiency." The Ram gets 25 miles to the gallon, putting it at the front of its class in terms of fuel economy. There are also a number of engine choices, so drivers are able to get the right amount of power that they need to tow heavy loads and handle other big jobs.

"The new Ram 1500 takes a massive step forward in technology and fuel economy, representing the direction the Ram Truck Brand is heading with all its models," said Fred Diaz, president and CEO of Ram Truck Brand and Chrysler de Mexico for Chrysler Group LLC. "… This award will be well-received by our dealers and customers, reiterating the fact that Ram has the best truck on the market."

Drivers who like the Ram truck don't necessarily have to purchase a new model to get a great pickup, as these vehicles have been produced for many years. This makes it easy to find used vehicles at New Jersey State Auto Auction, which carries a wide selection of makes and models. If car shoppers cannot decide between a Ram and other popular models such as the Ford F-150 or the Toyota Tundra, they can take test drives to make a more informed decision. No matter what they choose, they can drive off the lot with confidence, as each model is CARFAX certified.

Hyundai has climbed the ranks to become one of the leading car brands in recent years, and now the popular midsize Sonata has broken its all-time annual sales record. Last year, this model sold a record-setting 225,961 units, but the Sonata has already surpassed this amount in 2012, with a few days left to close out the year. The car has been turning heads for a few years now, standing out among other similar models for its impressive performance and many features.

"Sonata's redesign in early 2010 demonstrates that midsize sedans that paired bold design and fuel-efficiency with long-time segment essentials such as roominess, safety and durability could really break through," said John Krafcik, president and CEO of Hyundai Motor America. "We'd like to think Sonata helped spur on the latest generation of bolder midsize sedans, and we're happy to see that this new competition hasn't dented Sonata retail sales, which are now running third behind only Camry and Accord in December."

Since the redesigned Hyundai has been available for a few years, drivers searching for used cars may be able to find previously owned Sonatas. Oftentimes, used models already have many of the great features that are included in the sale price. These same additions would each cost extra for car shoppers looking to buy new models. NJ State Auto Auction has a wide selection of makes and models to choose from, making it easy for drivers in the New York/New Jersey area to find the ride they want. Plus, every vehicle on the lot is CARFAX certified, ensuring drivers will get behind the wheel of a reliable ride.

As the year winds to a close, Kelley Blue Book predicts new car sales in December will push the seasonally adjusted annual rate to 15.2 million units. At this time last year, the most confident predictions guessed the rate for 2012 would reach 15 million units. Since sales exceeded expectations, this is a clear indicator that the economic environment of the auto industry is continuing to improve. The rash of vehicle sales that followed in the wake of Superstorm Sandy certainly bolstered sales a bit, but this increase only lasted a little more than one month.

"Our analysts believe most buyers seeking a replacement for a vehicle damaged or destroyed by Superstorm Sandy already found the new or used car they needed in November," said Alec Gutierrez, senior market analyst of automotive insights for Kelley Blue Book. "There was some lingering replacement demand coming in from New York and New Jersey through the first week of December, but as the month went on, the sales pace in these states returned to pre-storm levels."

The 13 percent year-over-year increase in new car sales is also beneficial to the used car industry. In the past few years, there has been a high demand for used models, as many people turned to pre-owned vehicles during and following the recession to save money, and others held on to their vehicles for longer. This led to reduced inventories and drove up prices, but now that new car sales are on the rise, the cost of used models is beginning to ebb. Drivers looking to purchase used models can take advantage of the lower prices and find the car they want at New Jersey State Auto Auction, which has a wide selection of makes and models to choose from.

Safety is a primary concern for drivers, and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety puts all new models of vehicles through rigorous crash tests to measure their level of safety. The newest test to be added to the roster is the small overlap crash test, which replicates incidents when the front corner of a vehicle collides with an object like a tree or another car. Each car being tested is sent toward a 5-foot barrier, traveling at 40 miles per hour, and 25 percent of the vehicle's front end strikes this rigid object.

The IIHS recently released the results for 29 near-luxury and luxury midsize sedans from the 2013 model year, and the former group turned out much better results overall. The near-luxury group included the top performing Honda Accord and Suzuki Kizashi as well as 11 models that received "acceptable" ratings. Among the 11 luxury midsize cars, only three models earned "good" or "acceptable" ratings.

"It's remarkable that this group of midsize family cars did so much better than the midsize luxury car group," said IIHS President Adrian Lund. "The difference is stunning. Thirteen of these midsize cars offer better crash protection than all but three of their luxury counterparts, and at a price that's easier on the wallet."

Since the IIHS conducts these safety crash tests every year, drivers in the market for used cars can research tests from years past to learn more about the models they're interested in. When they have narrowed down their choices, car shoppers can head to New Jersey State Auto Auction to test drive a variety of cars, trucks and SUVs. Every vehicle on the lot is CARFAX certified, allowing motorists to get behind the wheel of a safe and reliable ride.