Buyers who are considering hybrids as they look at used cars in New Jersey won’t have to worry about new emissions rules in the region.

New Jersey, Pennsylvania and several other states in the region recently applied for cleaner car standards from the EPA based on regulations used by California which are stricter, according to the Environmental Defense Fund.

A report from the fund shows the effects of driving cleaner cars, such as hybrids, on less affluent families who represent a quarter of the populations who drive used cars in New Jersey. The data shows that they could save up to $4.1 billion in costs because of the more fuel efficient vehicles.

“Cleaner cars are a trifecta that will save families money at the gas pump, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and cut global warming pollution from tailpipes,” said James Fine, economist and policy scientist at the fund.

Less affluent drivers of used cars in New Jersey could benefit the most from the new regulations since their transportation costs are double that of wealthier motorists as a percentage of one’s monthly budget.

Used Pontiac Vibes in New York may be the only option for buyers looking to purchase the station wagon, as General Motors has officially cut production of the car.

The company has ceased production of Vibes and other vehicles at a California factory jointly owned with Toyota, according to Bloomberg.

While GM is looking to increase the numbers of hybrids it offers to 14 by 2012, one of the first may actually be a re-badged Toyota Prius if a deal is reached between the two manufactures, reported the news provider.

The change in strategy comes as the ailing manufacturer asks a bankruptcy court to allow it to shed off several unprofitable assets, according to the Associated Press.

They are hopeful, that as with the Chrysler sale with Fiat, shareholder protests will not affect the creation of the new business entity, reported the news provider.

“Chrysler was the test case for General Motors,” Professor Jack Williams told the Associated Press. “GM’s got momentum, government financing and lots of people that would like to see this happen.”

Although car lovers say that General Motors makes like Saab and Hummer are worth saving, for Pontiac enthusiasts looking to own a piece of the brand’s history, used Pontiac cars in New York may be one of their options because of GM’s recent decisions.

According to an online survey from CarGurus.com, 44 percent of the nearly 1,700 online customers who responded wanted Pontiac to survive elimination, with niche brands like Hummer and Saab also receiving support from more than one-fifth of the community.

“Pontiac has a trailblazing heritage, the 1964 Pontiac GTO is widely credited with starting the muscle-car craze, and its current G6 is the 20th best-selling car in the U.S., so I’m not surprised to see consumers vote to save this historic brand,” said Langley Steinert, CarGurus CEO.

Their passion may not be enough to sway the mind of corporate decision-makers at GM, however, as the New York Times reports that while sales of Hummer, Saturn and Saab are likely to allow those brands to survive in some fashion, Pontiac is still expected to be dropped from the GM lineup after next year, leaving those who like those models to search for used Pontiacs in New York and other states.

For those looking at used cars in New York, new legislation could make the prospect of making a purchase much more reasonable.

Senator Dianne Feinstein recently announced a modified “cash for clunkers” program, designed to get less efficient cars off of the road, and the bill includes payments for those who are looking to make a used car purchase this year.

If the car to be traded in gets less than 18 miles per gallon and is from 2002 or later, buyers could get $3,000 dollars on a used car, a voucher that drops in value with the model year of the trade-in car, to a minimum of $1,500 for a car built before 1998.

Feinstein says the legislation is a response to the fact that lawmakers know they “face real challenges with trying to encourage drivers to trade in their older, less fuel efficient vehicles – particularly in this tough economic climate,” Senator Feinstein said.

Along with co-sponsors Senator Susan Collins and Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, she hopes that the bill will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and use of between 40,000 and 80,000 barrels of oil a day.

Find Used Cars in New York with New Jersey State Auto

Most used Hummers can do a lot of things like drive through some waterways, climb steep grades and haul a lot of material.

One company wants to limit the one potential issue for some used car buyers in New York with an electric conversion kit that they say helps urban buyers by turning a Hummer H3 into a 100 mile per gallon fuel-sipper.

Raser Technologies is inviting members of congress to try out the retrofit system after an introduction from Senator Orrin Hatch, and says that the conversion allows for 40 miles of city travel before a range-extender internal combustion engine kicks in.

“Americans value the versatility of trucks and SUVs, the number one selling vehicles in America, but we also want to do what’s right for the environment,” said Kraig Higginson, Raser Technologies chariman. “This vehicle demonstrates that through innovation, we can do both.”

For those willing to wait for the green conversion kit and who admire the rigidity and strength of the smaller model, a used Hummer H3 from 2006 may be one option to consider.

Edmunds.com editors said it managed to handle trail roads with aplomb while drivers may appreciate the simple-to-use interior.

Find Used Hummers in New York with New Jersey State Auto

Those looking for used cars in New York may want to try out biodiesel conversions which may be more environmentally friendly, as a new facility may make it easier to be green.

A company in Massachusetts is offering a biodisel terminal that may give green-focused owners access to biodiesel without the need to figure out how to refine their own fuel from left over food products.

Baystate Biofuels says that by the end of May, it will have completed the first biodiesel terminal in Massachusetts, a facility that the company hopes will reduce greenhouse gas emissions from petroleum products by up to 78.5 percent.

“We are proud to be the greenest, most sustainable wet fuel distributor in the U.S., leveraging existing infrastructure to cut down on waste and minimize environmental impact,” said Dr Jesse Reich, Baystate Biofuels CEO.

Even those who aren’t considering biodiesel conversions, but may be looking at used cars in New York such as the diesel-powered Volkswagen Jetta TDi may benefit, since the facility plans to sell its biodiesel products to local refineries, as well as to local home heating oil suppliers.

Find New York Used Cars with New Jersey State Auto

Although two major American automakers, General Motors and Chrysler, are struggling to stay afloat and have had to merge with other companies or take government money to keep operating, most Americans say that would not affect their next car purchase.

Nearly three-fifths of Americans say that the automakers’ troubles don’t concern them, according to a recent cars.com survey, but only about one of every 10 who responded that were aged 18-24 thought that the automakers would last for long.

If they’re in the market for an American car, however, they can still choose from used American cars that have gotten strong ratings from one website.

For example the 2005 PT Cruiser, one of the cars in the Chrysler family, was lauded by Edmunds.com editors for its styling and roomy interior, good acceleration with the turbo model, as well as pricing that can be affordable.

Now, that may be even more true, as the car is estimated by the news provider to cost less than the in-state tuition of many state colleges and universities.

Find New York Used Cars with New Jersey State Auto

May is National EcoDriving Month, and one association says that tips that could reduce the environmental impact could help save money for new and used car owners as well.

EcoDriving USA wants drivers to reduce their carbon footprint and improve mileage by driving more efficiently.

Simply driving at a steady speed, either through cruise control or good pedal control, could save drivers up to $200 a year in fuel costs, according to the Department of Transportation figures, and observing posted speed limits can increase mileage by nearly a quarter.

Grand Prix driver Nelson Philippe is part of this effort with a team he is heading, which has an interesting goal: become the first race team at the Indianapolis 500 to run a carbon-neutral race.

For Philippe, it may include tactics he already knows, saying, “Race car drivers need to practice EcoDriving too because a race can be won or lost on the track by saving fuel. I apply that same principle when I’m on the road.”

Find New York Used Cars with New Jersey State Auto

A bi-partisan group in Congress has put its weight behind the Right to Repair Bill, including representatives from across the country.

Currently eight members of the House of Representatives, including initial sponsor Democrat Edolphus Towns, have signed on to support the bill that would require auto manufacturers to provide any information that may be used by independent shops to repair cars that it does to dealerships.

While language in the bill supports the protection of trade secrets, it also states that car owners and repair shops should have any tools and information used by dealerships made available at a similar cost.

One of the principal concerns is the more advanced computer systems that control most modern cars, which may require special esoteric information in order to decode.

It may also benefit owners of new and used cars looking to keep more money in their pocket: the bill as written recognizes that if enacted, it would help to promote competition that could benefit consumers.

“Right to Repair has become more important than ever as motorists seek new neighborhood repair shops because a dealership has closed in their area,” said Kathleen Schmatz, Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association CEO. “This … ensures that local auto repair remains available to car owners throughout the country.”

Find New York Used Cars with NJ State Auto

A bill called the Right to Repair Act was recently introduced in the House of Representatives in a bid to increase the distribution of information needed to properly repair vehicles.

It would require that automakers make tools and service information, especially those that relate to the computers that increasingly control the inner works of automobiles, available to independent service centers at the same time it is provided to new car dealerships.

“Without the Right to Repair Act, millions of motorists would be forced back to fewer dealers for service” said Ray Pohlman, Coalition for Auto Repair Equality president. “Consumers spend thousands of dollars to purchase their vehicle and should not be told where they should obtain those repairs by the manufacturer.”

Those in the market for a used car may benefit from this service as well, since the information would lead to better quality care at local auto body shops even after a car warranty is up.

Car makers may appreciate language in the bill that protects proprietary information and trade secrets, although that information would be publicly available once it is distributed to the dealers.

Find New York Used Cars with New Jersey State Auto