A new study released by AAA has revealed that the cost of driving has risen in the past year, as drivers are now paying more for fuel and tires.

The annual study, entitled "Your Driving Costs" found that the overall price of owning and operating a vehicle increased by 3.4 percent in 2011. Although the cost for maintenance work and insurance was down, prices for fuel and tires were up. In addition, vehicles began to depreciate at a faster rate – a cost that the organization says many drivers overlook.

"The 2011 rise in costs is due to relatively large increases in fuel, tire and depreciation costs as well as more moderate increases in other areas," said John Nielsen, national director for AAA.

Specifically, fuel costs were up 8.6 percent, despite a rise in fuel economy for the most popular vehicles. Tire prices increased a whopping 15.7 percent, and drivers lost nearly 5 percent more due to depreciation.

Drivers who want to keep their costs down may want to consider purchasing a used car from New Jersey State Auto Auction. These vehicles won't depreciate nearly as fast and will also cost a lot less than buying new. 

Automakers typically reserve the showing off of their vehicles for official auto shows, but Cadillac is so confident in the new entertainment system for its models that it's bringing them to a film festival.

Cadillac has announced that it will be onhand at the Vali Film Festival in Colorado with three of its vehicles: the SRX Crossover, CTS Sport Wagon and Escalade Platinum. What's an automaker doing at a film festival? The company is showing off the new in-car entertainment systems. These cars are outfitted with a 10-speaker Bose system providing digital surround sound and four screens. Essentially, attendees will have a chance to watch some of the films expected to be on hand at the festival from the comfort of one of the vehicle's backseats.

"The passenger entertainment systems in our Cadillacs truly bring the movie experience into the vehicle," said Don Butler, vice president of Cadillac marketing. "We thought the Vail Film Festival provided a great opportunity to showcase our latest technology and also give attendees another way to enjoy these fine films."

Drivers interested in a Cadillac or any other vehicle may want to consider New Jersey State Auto Auction, which offers a wide variety of cars for sale at affordable prices.
 

When a driver comes in to New Jersey State Auto Auction, they'll be able to browse a massive selection of cars for sale. It can be quite difficult to sort through all these vehicles, so a buyer likely has to narrow it down by segment – but even then it can be tough to choose.

It'd be a lot easier if there was simply a clear-cut "best" car for each category. While there's no official designation for the "best" models, Consumer Reports' highly-anticipated automotive issue does list their best picks for each vehicle type. The consumer guide bases its ratings on safety, reliability and a comprehensive road test with more than 50 individual data points. This doesn't necessarily mean that the cars are head-and-shoulders above their competition – after all, personal preference comes into play as well. However, these vehicles are a good starting point for overwhelmed drivers.

Toyota made a strong showing on the list as usual, with three of its models named as the best in their class. The Toyota RAV4 picked up the win for small SUV, while the Prius was named the best green car and the Sienna minivan was picked as the best "family hauler." It's worth noting that there was a bit of controversy in the minivan category, as the Honda Odyssey actually scored a bit higher – but because it was released so recently, the guide didn't have reliability data to work with.

Small cars are all the rage right now with high fuel prices, and Consumer Reports devoted two categories to compact vehicles. The Honda Fit won for best budget car, with the guide praising its "amazing" interior space for such a small car. Meanwhile, the redesigned Hyundai Elantra was named the best compact sedan, as the news source liked the 39 highway miles per gallon and well-rounded nature of the car's features.

Okay, so those are the practical choices – but what about the fun to drive vehicles? The news source didn't disappoint in this category either. The Infiniti G37 has dominated the magazine's "sporty sedan" category for the past five years, and with good reason – the car features unrivaled performance combined with a luxurious interior. In terms of a coupe, the winner was the Ford Mustang, with the news source praising both its V6 and V8 offerings.

These chosen vehicles aren't the only cars on the market, but they're a good starting place for drivers looking to purchase a vehicle. 

It seems like a no-brainer. Gas prices have spiked past $4 and many drivers' wallets are getting hammered at the pump. So it might be a great time to trade in that gas guzzler for a new, more fuel-efficient model, right?

Well, drivers should consider all the options before pulling the trigger on that trade-in. It's true that upgrading to a more fuel-efficient vehicle can be desirable with gas prices seemingly getting higher every day. But drivers will have to weigh the benefits against the costs – which can be significant, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

SUVs typically get somewhere around 15 miles per gallon, while many of today's new models can get above 30. So essentially, drivers who are upgrading from a gas-guzzler to a hatchback or sedan can expect to cut their monthly gas prices in half.

But whether this is worth it or not ultimately depends on how much you are spending on gas each month. If you're putting a lot of miles on the car, you might be able to save yourself $100 per month or so. Of course, you'll have to take into account the costs associated with purchasing a new vehicle. If you're using a car loan, you'll likely have an increase in monthly payments – one that would likely offset the monthly savings on gas. Your insurance premiums could rise as well, which also lessens the fuel efficiency savings.

That doesn't even begin to factor in the initial investment for a car. Hatchbacks are all the rage right now and as such are selling for high prices. SUVs, on the other hand, aren't exactly in high demand – so you may not be getting a lot on your trade-in.

"If you have a large SUV and are wondering whether to trade it, I would say absolutely not unless something dramatic has changed in your life – like the miles you drive daily," Jesse Toprak, vice president of industry trends and insight at TrueCar.com told the news source. "You're trying to buy something that's hot and trade something that's not – which is not a good scenario."

That's not to say that trade-ins aren't a handy tool – it's always nice to get some money for a vehicle, and if it really is time for a new car it's probably the best way to handle it. But switching out of a car early simply because of the gas mileage typically leads to buyer's remorse. For example, savings could be significant now with gas prices high, but drivers may miss the size and utility of their SUV when the prices drop again.

A smart driver will look past the miles per gallon and factor in all the costs that can come with a new vehicle. If they don't, a move to save money could end up quickly costing them. For some guidance on how a driver can make their vehicle work for them, the experts at New Jersey State Auto Auction can recommend a vehicle that will make sense financially. 

A California Jaguar dealership has made national headlines after announcing that it will be giving away $1,000 just for test-driving one of their Jaguars.

Normally, dealership publicity stunts don't get much play other than in the local area, but the promotion for Galpin Jaguar in Los Angeles is just bold and unusual enough to merit mentioning. USA Today reports that the company will be giving $1,000 to anyone who test drives the Jaguar, then ends up purchasing or leasing a comparably-equipped Lexus, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, BMW or Porsche.

Obviously, the drivers who will end up taking advantage of the deal will likely be those already in the market for a luxury vehicle – if they decide not to go with the Jaguar.

"Our belief in the new 2011 Jaguar line-up compelled us to offer something extraordinary as proof to our customers that we believe today's Jaguar is a superior choice," said Vice President of Galpin Motors Beau Boeckmann.

According to the news source, more than 15 people had signed up for the promotion just a few days after it was announced, although nothing has been given away yet.

You might not be getting $1,000 just for a test drive, but the deals on used luxury vehicles at New Jersey Auto Auction are well-worth a look. There's a wide range of cars for sale at affordable prices, and car loans are also available.