You know them, you've encountered them and you probably hate them. Many of us have had to contend with bikers during our commutes, and it can often feel like they were put on the road specifically to get in the way of motorists. Though it may seem like cyclists and drivers are destined to be at each other's throats for all eternity, there are a few things to keep in mind that can ensure the road the two of you share remains smoothly paved. 

Respect their space
You've heard the share the road slogans before, and it's time to take them to heart. The fact is, there are more bikes on the road now than ever before – The Washington Post reported that the D.C. area alone has seen an 86 percent increase in the number of people commuting by bike instead of car between 2000 and 2009, and in total the city streets see an additional 16 million bikes hit the road every year. Unfortunately, this surge in bikers has come with its share of growing pains. Roughly 45,000 bikers are injured and 700 are even killed every year due to traffic accidents.

The fact is that the roads are no longer just for cars, and evidence of this is becoming more and more prevalent. Bike lanes line most major city streets, and it's imperative that as a motorist you keep out of them. Not only is parking or driving in bike lanes rude, it can force cyclists into more dangerous areas populated by cars; that's how accidents happen. Not all streets have bike lanes, which means you'll be sharing not only the road, but likely your lane as well. According to Edmunds, giving bikers three feet of space between them and you is instrumental in promoting safe road sharing, so much so that it's been passed into law in 20 states.

Bikes are not cars
We're all prone to a little road rage every now and then, but consider the fundamental difference between bikes and cars. Collisions between motor vehicles can cause damage and increased insurance premiums, while a collision with a biker who is almost completely unprotected can cause serious injury. Understand that bikers are more vulnerable than you drivers, and make an effort to drive more defensively.

If you're stalwart in pledging your loyalty to the motorist camp, head to NJ State Auto Auction. On the lot you'll find hundreds of Carfax-certified cars, and an in-house finance team dedicated to helping you afford the used vehicle of your choice – the road sharing afterward is up to you, of course.

Constantly rising gas prices are everyone's least favorite part of driving. Frugal motorists are always on the hunt for new methods to boost fuel efficiency and save cash, scraping the barrel of folksy wisdom and fancy scientifically engineered products alike. But for every tip on how to save gas you encounter, there are a dozen misconceptions, bogus bits of information and enterprising snake oil salespeople waiting to prey on overeager drivers. Below are some of the more common traps you'll want to be sure and avoid.

Manual doesn't trump automatic
It's a common myth that manual transmissions tend to get better gas mileage than their automatic cousins. MSN Autos reported that historically speaking this was true, as the greater control drivers have over shifting gears in a manual could prevent superfluous fuel consumption due to over-revving the engine. However, in recent years, automatic transmissions have become more and more advanced, and are now better able to control the engine in the gear shifting process than many drivers are. As automatic gear shifting became more efficient, so too did the fuel consumption of automatic cars, and stick drivers' old advantage at the pump has quickly evaporated.

There is no magic potion for better gas mileage
Entrepreneurial manufacturers of auto accessories have been carving out a niche in the "artificial fuel additives" aisle of your local auto shop for years. Citing a variety of questionably sourced scientific evidence, all of these products are connected by one claim – that they will give you better gas mileage and save you money. It should come as no surprise that these mysterious elixirs are almost all universally bunk. In fact, not only have many fuel additives not been proven to help your car run cleaner, the Federal Trade Commission published a report outlining that many of them can actually damage your engine over time. As a general rule, neither the EPA nor any other government body endorses products alleging to boost fuel efficiency, so if you pick up a bottle claiming the product is backed by Uncle Sam, that should raise a big red flag. 

If you have concerns as to how your car is running, be sure to schedule an appointment with NJ State Auto Auction's Total Car Care Center. Knowledgeable staff are on hand to answer any questions you have about your car, and can work with you to identify and fix any problems to keep your car running the way you need it to. 

Spring is finally here, but don't put away that mop and bucket just yet. Your spring cleaning efforts aren't over until you've given your car the traditional seasonal TLC as well. Let's face it – you certainly weren't scrubbing and waxing it weekly in the dead of winter, and who can blame you? But now that the snow is gone and the mercury is rising, it's time to snap on your gloves and give your car a thorough spring cleaning.

Cleaning it up
After a long harsh winter like this last one, your car can look like you drove it through a war zone. Salt, sand and a host of other wintertime detritus can make your car look grimy and old. Giving your ride an extensive car wash doesn't just make you feel better about how your car looks, it's also good for its performance. Road salt and much of the buildup you've accumulated throughout the winter months is corrosive, and can actually contribute to the rusting of your car's frame.

While you're on a cleaning kick, it's important to give the inside of your car as much love as the outside. Popular Mechanics outlined a battery of interior cleaning jobs, from vacuuming your car from top to bottom and scrubbing the upholstery to treating leather seats and washing floor mats. Of course, we know you like to measure the winter based on how many empty coffee cups accumulate in your back seat, but it's time to clean out the trash and finally get rid of those as well.

Keeping it running
Spring cleaning means taking care of more than just the cosmetic things. Changing temperatures as the weather warms up can affect road conditions. The Tire Rack reported that you can expect a change of approximately one psi for every 10 degree change in temperature, so be sure to be vigilant in checking the air pressure as well as your tires' treads. Speaking of tires, if you're sporting a set of snow tires for the colder months you'll want to swap those out for all-weather tires. Snow tires tend to have softer rubber and deeper treads, according to Popular Mechanics, and you can actually cause damage to them if not removed for the summer.

If you need a hand in getting your car checked out for spring, make an appointment with the NJ State Auto Auction's Total Car Care Center. The talented and knowledgeable staff are on hand to answer any questions you have, as well as help you address any maintenance concerns so your car stays in top shape.

Driving is such an integral part of daily life in the U.S. that we hardly even think about it. We're so used to getting around in our cars that for many of us it can seem as natural and automatic as walking. The feeling of freedom you get cruising down a highway or driving around with friends is hard to beat, but it can be easy to develop bad habits that can transform driving from a fun activity to a potentially dangerous one. Especially for younger teen drivers who don't have years of experience under their belts, it's important to be aware of some of the most common bad habits drivers get into to make sure you keep driving safely.

Teens at risk
Research conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that, perhaps not surprisingly, teens aged 16-19 make up the highest percentage of auto accidents in the U.S. In fact, in 2010, 282,000 teens were treated in hospital emergency departments for car crash-related injuries. That adds up to around $19 billion in injury-related medical costs for only teen boys. With such a high figure comprising 30 percent of the total national cost of injury-related treatment, it's not only good safety practice to nix bad driving habits, it's beneficial to your wallet as well.

High-risk habits
When it comes to safety-compromising driving habits, what are the worst offenders? One of the easiest and most important things you can do to become a safer driver is put down the cellphone. In a recent survey of drivers ages 16-21 conducted by Bridgestone, 80 percent admitted that they considered texting and driving to be more dangerous than skydiving, yet their actions speak louder than words. Results indicated that 70 percent of teen drivers admitted to texting while stopped at a red light – which may not sound so bad until you take into account that 60 percent said they texted while driving alone in their cars.

While cellphone use sits atop the list, many of teens' bad driving habits can ultimately be traced back to lack of experience or not paying attention. According to the CDC, teen drivers are more likely than their older, more experienced counterparts to misjudge or underestimate risky situations, as well as engage in riskier driving practices like speeding.

Whether you're a teen looking for your first used car or an experienced driver looking for a new set of wheels, NJ State Auto Auction can help you out. There are hundreds of used cars on the lot, and an in-house finance department to help make your choice of high-quality used car affordable.

Everyone has that image in their head of the classic drive-in movie theater. The picture of the giant empty field or lot crammed with hundreds of cars has been a classic fixture of American entertainment for decades. Sadly, recent years have seen the collapse of the drive-in phenomenon and the subsequent closing of most of the drive-in theaters in the U.S. Even though many of these iconic theaters have gone the way of the dinosaur, it's fun to take a few minutes to pay homage to these classic avatars of Americana, and maybe even learn something about their history.

Did You Know?
Did you know that New Jersey was the home of the very first drive-in theater? Developed by auto sales manager Richard Hollingshead, opened his first theater on June 6, 1933 in Camden, N.J. Originally billed as a "park-in" theater (which, when you think about it, makes much more sense), admission was sold at the rate of 25 cents per car and 25 cents per person. 

Equally impressive was the All-Weather Drive-In located in Copiague, N.Y. This 28-acre behemoth boasted full-service eateries, a playground for children, and parking spaces for up to 2,500 cars.

Join The Fun!
Although the number of drive-ins still operating in the U.S. today is rapidly diminishing, Salon reported that there are still a few hidden gems out there just waiting for savvy and nostalgic car-bound movie-goers to pull up in a parking spot – man of them close by in New York or New Jersey. 

The Warwick Drive-In is located in Warwick, N.Y., six miles east of Vernon, N.J. Like most drive-ins, it offers double feature movies. Unlike most drive-ins, it's pet-friendly, so you're encouraged to bring along your four-legged friend. If you're looking for a bit of history, you'll want to check out Shankweiler's Drive-In in Orefield, Pa. Operating consistently since 1934, it is the oldest drive-in theater in the country that is still running.

If you're willing to take a bit of a road trip, you can head on down to Baltimore to the Bengies Drive-In. With a screen that is 6,240 square feet, it's the largest screen in the U.S., drive-in or not. Opened in 1956, it may not be the most historic of drive-in destinations, but it offers cheap double features and an assortment of both modern and classic drive-in food.

If you're itching to head out to one of America's remaining drive-in hot spots, head into NJ State Auto Auction. With hundreds of Carfax-certified cars on the lot and an in-house finance department, they make it easy to find and afford a quality used car, truck or van. 

April Fool's Day is a time to celebrate all things jocular, and the auto industry is no different. The holiday famous for playfully pitting friends against each other for the sake of lighthearted fun also has a long tradition of being enjoyed by some of your favorite car companies, often to our good-natured chagrin. Take a look at some of the more notable examples from throughout the years – it will give you something to do while you're replacing your roommate's seasons of "Breaking Bad" with "Toddlers & Tiaras" DVDs.

In 2010, Infinity tickled the collective automotive world when they announced some strange new features to be included in their upcoming models, including Gastronomi, an in-car system that monitors how hungry drivers get. Also in 2010 (apparently a banner year for auto-related hijinks), MINI published a press release introducing MINIMagic, a new type of paint that would let owners change the color of their MINI at will, as simply and quickly as applying a new coat of wax.

BMW has a long and storied history with the holiday as well. The German auto manufacturer has traditionally pulled out all the stops each year as far back as 1983. The online Museum of Hoaxes chronicled the company's escapades, which include such highlights as announcing an in-dashboard tire pressure control system, and a system that claimed to take over driving for you if you fell asleep at the wheel ("lose consciousness, not control").

Admittedly, some of those pranks sound like pretty sweet features.

If you're looking to join the auto industry's April Fool's celebration by shopping for a used car, head to NJ State Auto Auction. There are hundreds of Carfax-certified cars, trucks and vans on the lot, as well as an in-house financing department to help you qualify for a loan for your choice used car – all without the unwanted surprises found April 1. 

With spring and summer just around the corner, road trip fever is in the air. While it may be tempting to load up your trunk, hop in your car and head cross-country at the first sign of the spring sun, taking time to do some planning beforehand is essential. After all, on any trip, your car will become your home away from home while you're on the road. When looking for a potential road-tripmobile, it's important to look with an eye toward not just reliability, but convenience as well. Below are a couple of things to keep in mind when shopping for the perfect car for your trip.

Fuel Efficiency
This may sound like a no-brainer, but long-distance driving means more stops at the gas station. Unfortunately, drivers know that the pumps can be punishing to pocketbooks. With AAA having reported that average gas prices have risen 42 out of the last 45 days, 2014 doesn't look like the year that's going to turn around. What's more, gas prices tend to increase in the warmer months as demand goes up. 

That said, choosing a fuel-efficient car will go a long way in saving you cash at the pump. Models like the 2004–2009 Toyota Prius report an impressive 47 mpg, and the 2003–2005 Honda Civic Hybrid reports 41 mpg according to MSN. While you may not be able to avoid high gas prices, a fuel-efficient car can let you get by with fewer trips to the pump.

Comfort And Safety
While on the road, you'll want to make sure that the car you're spending all day in is comfortable and safe. Crossovers and SUVs are popular choices due to their size and cargo capacity. Many, like the 2009–2011 Ford Escape are available as hybrids so you don't have to make the choice between riding in comfort and stopping too often for gas. Safety is a plus here too; the 2011 Chevrolet Traverse was named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, reported AutoTrader.com.

You'll want to keep cleanliness in mind, as your car will likely see its fair share of food and drinks on your trip. AutoTrader.com lauds the 2005–2011 Honda Element for its stain-resistant seats and urethane coated floors, meaning you can down those iced coffees fearlessly. 

Wherever you're headed this season, make your first stop NJ State Auto Auction. There are hundreds are Carfax-certified cars on the lot waiting for the chance to hit the highway on your summer adventures.