Shopping for a used car can provide a lot of opportunities for buyers looking for value, but these motorists have to be aware of some common mistakes that can disrupt the process. These blunders can occur at any point in the search and selection of pre-owned vehicles, so drivers should pay attention to how they conduct the business transaction. 

"Buying a car is something people usually only do at most every few years, so naturally the right way to go about it isn't always top of mind," said Brian Moody, the site editor of AutoTrader.com. "But a misstep during the shopping process could turn a great deal into a money pit in the long run." 

One concept to keep in mind is that you should compile a list of the features you need and stick to it. The overwhelming amount of options available at a used car lot can cause you to consider special packages or amenities that are unnecessary, which could drive up the cost. Having a concrete list of what you want will help to keep you focused throughout the shopping experience. 

Drivers should also be sure to take the vehicle in for a mechanical inspection. A vehicle may run beautifully during a test drive but still have some issues under the hood. Having a professional take a look at the inner workings of a used car is essential for planning out future maintenance and making sure there no surprises in store. 

You can find a great used car shopping experience at NJ State Auto Auction. The auction lot is filled with CARFAX-certified cars, trucks and vans, any of which can offer great value for drivers. 

Now that lengthy summer road trips are in the past, it is time for drivers to turn their attention to fall and winter maintenance. Cooler temperatures, slick roads and inclement weather will be here before you know it, and it is extremely important to get a leg up on regular maintenance that can prevent problems from striking in the future. 

There are a few areas of a car that drivers should be looking out in preparation for colder weather. Brakes will likely need to be replaced. Excessive use stemming from heavy summer traffic or extended road trips could wear down these gears, and you should install some fresh products to handle slick or icy roads. 

Another area that needs attention is the wipers. Not only should you be checking the wiper fluid to make sure you can clean the ice off a windshield, but you also should consider getting new blades. Driving in the winter requires heavy-duty wipers that can break through frost, wet snow, leaves and more. Having new ones installed ensures that you'll can break through this buildup to see whatever obstacles are in your way. 

Perhaps the most important aspect of a vehicle that needs to be examined is its tires. Some motorists may want to consider investing in snow tires for the winter, particularly if they anticipate lots of tough driving conditions, but others should simply be checking on the tread to see if the tires are capable of gripping slippery roads in the months ahead. 

The Total Car Care Center at NJ State Auto Auction is available to help drivers perform maintenance on their vehicles. The garage caters to the public and can help with any issues your automobile may have. 

National Child Passenger Safety Week kicked off Sept. 15, and as part of the awareness effort, the organization Safe Kids Today released a new safety study with the General Motors Foundation. Titled "Buckle Up: Every Ride, Every Time," the report found that many parents are not using seatbelts effectively with their children. 

According to the study, about 21 percent of parents believe it is acceptable to drive with children unrestrained in specific circumstances, such as when they are only driving a short distance or traveling overnight. However, these instances can be among the most dangerous for passengers. Approximately 60 percent of accidents involving children occur 10 minutes or less from home, and kids are more likely to be injured in crashes at night than during the day. 

"As kids grow up, it can be easy to forget the importance of taking time to buckle up, especially on a quick or overnight trip. Unfortunately, exceptions can lead to tragedies," said Mike Robinson, a vice president at GM. "The research findings underscore the importance of remaining vigilant about buckling up throughout a child's lifetime. There is no reason important enough to take the risk." 

Safety doesn't stop when kids are old enough to drive themselves, either. New drivers need to buckle up just as much as young children, and engraining the habit of automatically using a seatbelt can protect them in many situations on the roads. 

Parents, young drivers and other motorists should be on the lookout for a vehicle that blends their desire for style with the need for safety. At New Jersey State Auto Auction, they can browse through a wide selection of CARFAX-certified cars, truck and vans, many of which are both safe and attractive.

Graduated driver licensing laws were created to give young motorists plenty of time to get used to the road before they find themselves in risky situations. Often, these good intentions fall short, as many teen drivers bypass the regulations without the knowledge of their parents. In fact, according to a recent survey from State Farm, many parents and their teen drivers are not on the same page when it comes to GDL programs. 

The study found that there are several areas where parents are not informed as to their teen's driving habits. For instance, about 69 percent of adults think their child always follows a nighttime driving curfew, when in reality, only 48 percent of teens say they almost always follow this law. Similarly, approximately 70 percent of parents believe their children adhere to rules regarding the number of passengers they can have in a car. Only 43 percent of young motorists say they always follow this restriction, which can contribute to unsafe situations and distracted driving. 

"Over the past two decades, some form of GDL has been passed in every state, and teen crash fatalities have dropped substantially, but more still needs to be done to save lives," said Kendall Pole, chairman of the Governors Highway Safety Association. "Parents can play a key role in enforcing and monitoring GDL laws and helping teens become safe drivers. Parents should not rely solely on GDL to instill good driving habits – they have to step up as well." 

Parents looking to keep their teens safe will want to make sure they are investing in a car with plenty of safety features. To do so without breaking the bank, head down to NJ State Auto Auction. There you can find a wide variety of CARFAX-certified cars, trucks and vans that could be the ideal affordable investment for you and your teen. 

As the quality of vehicles continue to improve, the supply of used cars for sale is getting better and better. This is good news for many drivers, as it means they can find pre-owned automobiles that boast some impressive features and top-notch performance, all without breaking the bank. However, as the quality goes up, so do prices. Although the sticker prices for these used cars are still much lower than new models, shoppers have to put in some work to find the best value. 

The NADA Used Car Guide predicts that the price of used cars that are between 4 and 10 years old will be 0.5 percent higher at the end of 2013 than they were the year before. At the same time, pre-owned vehicles that are under 3 years old will likely see average prices 1.5 percent lower than in 2012. Much of this has to do with the quality and reliability of older models, which are rapidly leveling the playing field in these areas when compared to more recent automobiles. 

"Historically speaking, reliability and unexpected repair cost concerns meant that vehicles over 5 years of age took a back seat to their younger, in-warranty counterparts in terms of demand," said Jonathan Banks, an analyst for the NADA Used Car Guide. "However, rapid advances in dependability over the past decade have changed consumer attitudes toward purchasing older vehicles." 

Drivers on the hunt for used cars that are both dependable and valuable are not without hope. The lot at New Jersey State Auto Auction is filled with CARFAX-certified cars, trucks and vans, and any of these pre-owned vehicles has the potential to be a great investment for any motorist. 

When it comes to shopping around for a used car, every driver is looking for something different. A few motorists are focused on the driving performance, while others may be drawn to impressive safety features or a sleek exterior. In general, many prospective buyers are looking for a combination of these top factors, and a recent study from the NADA Used Car Guide attempted to find just what the most attractive qualities in a car purchase are. 

According to the survey, the overall quality and dependability of a vehicle is considered to be the most important aspect of a car purchase by more than 23 percent of shoppers. That is well ahead of fuel economy, which took second place with more than 14 percent of the vote despite being the runaway winner in last year's poll. Many drivers are placing less emphasis on mileage now that gas prices are falling back into an acceptable range. 

"While higher gasoline prices and stiffer federal regulations have raised the profile of fuel economy over the past few years, the survey results clearly indicate that car and light-truck shoppers are looking for a trouble-free ownership experience above all else," said Jonathan Banks, an auto analyst for the NADA Used Car Guide. 

Other factors that played a role in the purchase process included the brand, vehicle design, power and performance, and safety. On the opposite end of the spectrum are extra features like navigation systems or driver-assist technologies. Compared to some of the aforementioned characteristics, these features were not considered terribly important. 

No matter what motorists are looking for, they can peruse the top-notch options at the New Jersey State Auto Auction. The auction lot is loaded with CARFAX-certified cars, trucks and vans, allowing drivers to select the ride that suits their needs and has all of the qualities they are looking for. 

No one likes getting caught in traffic. Unfortunately for many drivers across the U.S., it's looking like that prospect is unavoidable. The most recent INRIX Gridlock Index found that traffic in June increased 8 percent compared to the same time last year. It's the third straight month traffic has increased.  

The influx of traffic is largely due to an improved economy, which led to more jobs and more employees heading to work. In the country's 100 most populated metro areas, where much of this economic growth took place, drivers are finding themselves stuck in traffic for 7 percent longer than in 2012. 

"Last year at this time we saw a 19 percent year-over-year decrease in traffic congestion levels," said Bryan Mistele, CEO of INRIX. "Yet we turned a corner in December. Aside from a slight pullback in March, we've seen higher levels of consumer spending and employment lead to dramatically higher levels of gridlock on our roads nationwide." 

While the surge of traffic on the roads may be a good sign for the national economy, it's not so great for drivers. Luckily, there are a few things motorists can do to make sure they stay safe and comfortable behind the wheel, regardless of how many people are driving around them. Getting air conditioning and the HVAC system checked out is essential for staying relaxed in a car, and motorists should also make sure their brakes are in top condition and can handle the stop-and-go style often found in heavy traffic. 

If you think your car has an issue that needs to be addressed or it's simply ready for a tune up, head to NJ State Auto Auction. The garage there caters to the public and is capable of handling any problems that may pop up. 

The used car market is seeing a slight decline in sales, which could create ideal conditions for buyers on a budget. When the economy took a turn for the worse a few years ago, many drivers turned to used cars or held on to their current rides in an effort to save money, and this resulted in fewer used vehicles that sometimes cost more than their new counterparts. As conditions have improved, numerous car owners have turned back to the new car segment, putting less of a strain on the supply of used cars. This has given the used car market some breathing room, as prices have come down and inventories have grown.

According to a recent Edmunds.com report, used car sales fell 3.4 percent in the first six months of 2013 compared to the first half of 2012. With less of a demand for pre-owned models, dealers will likely be lowering prices to reach their sales quotas, making this an excellent time to begin the search for your next ride.

It is important to note that, while overall sales may have fallen, franchise dealerships and certified, pre-owned sales have improved 6 and 12.5 percent, respectively. This means drivers will want to check out other options, such as New Jersey State Auto Auction. The dealership, located in Jersey City, is open to the public and has more than four football fields worth of used cars, trucks and SUVs. Every model on the lot is backed by a Carfax report, so you'll know exactly what you're buying before you finalize the sale. You can also get approved for an auto loan in minutes, as NJ State Auto partners with a number of major lenders to help get you behind the wheel of the car you need regardless of your credit history.

There are many things to consider when shopping around for a used car. In addition to important aspects like fuel economy, driving performance and safety features, you also have to be aware of a vehicle's history. This is especially important when you consider the number of flood-damaged cars on the roads. According to a new report from Carfax, there are more than 212,000 vehicles classified as flood damaged currently on the roads, despite the fact that many of these automobiles were thought to be ruined beyond long-term repair. 

Nearly two-thirds of these flood-damaged vehicles are confined to 10 states, including New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. Many of these vehicles may have suffered damage from Superstorm Sandy, and were given a short-term fix before being sold to unsuspecting drivers. If left untreated, the issues present in these cars could pose a major concern for motorists, but there are a few things these individuals can do to protect themselves. 

"Flood cars a volatile mixture of water, metal and electricity," said Larry Gamache, a communications director at Carfax. "Once a car is ravaged by water, the mechanical, electrical or safety systems can fail at any time. There's also the health risk, as mold and bacteria permeate the vents and soft parts of the interior. Know what you're putting you and your family into before laying down your hard-earned money. Start with a Carfax Vehicle History Report and thorough inspection by a trusted mechanic." 

To make the car search easier, head to an auction lot where the options are Carfax-certified. You can find just that at New Jersey State Auto Auction, which has a wide selection of pre-owned cars, trucks and vans that are more than capable of meeting your driving needs. 

Learning to drive was once a much-anticipated milestone in every teen's life. Now it seems that getting behind the wheel has lost some of its allure, and many young people are putting off earning their license indefinitely. 

According to a recent study from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, only 44 percent of teens get their license within 12 months of their eligibility. By the time these young people turn 18, only 54 percent are licensed drivers. These numbers are significantly lower than in the 1980s, when 46 percent of 16-year-olds and 87 percent of 19-year-olds were licensed, NBC News reports. A large portion of young people are pushing back their driving because they don't have a vehicle and believe it would be too expensive to own and operate one. 

There are some safety concerns associated with teens waiting to drive. Those individuals over the age of 18 don't have to participate in the graduated license program most states have implemented, which requires teens to work up to independent driving with permits and regulations. 

"With one in three adults waiting to get their license until they turn 18, there's a segment of this generation missing opportunities to learn under the safeguards that GDL provides," said Peter Kissinger, the president of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. "For most, it's about not having a car or having alternatives for getting around that are the top reasons cited for delaying what has traditionally been considered to be a rite of passage." 

Young drivers who are ready to make the leap to the roads but want to invest in an affordable car should head to places like NJ State Auto Auction. The auction lot boasts plenty of CARFAX-certified models, ranging from sedans to trucks. Many of the options are low cost and high quality, allowing drivers to get some bang for their buck.