By deciding to purchase a used car in New Jersey, shoppers have already made a smart choice if they're looking to save money. But while purchasing a pre-owned vehicle is a good start, there are some ways you can ensure you'll find an even better deal.

A good place to start on your hunt for an affordable used car is by looking at what the best selling cars were three or four years ago, NASDAQ suggests. Experts say because cars like the Honda Civic and Volkswagen Jetta were popular in 2008 and 2009, there are likely a lot more of them on used car lots than less popular vehicles, like the Nissan Sentra or Ford Focus. As a result, you'll probably get a better deal.

In a similar vein, you should makes sure to do plenty of research before heading to the lot. Luckily, there are a number of resources available to prospective buyers, so you can look at everything from safety ratings to fuel-efficiency and reviews by previous drivers to get a good idea of which car is the best deal. Additionally, thanks to websites like Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com, you can get an idea for what a fair price is for your ideal car.

Last but not least, you'll want to head to the right place. In this case, New Jersey State Auto Auction is your best bet. You can choose from a wide variety of makes and models, ranging from SUVs to vans to compact cars, and they're all CARFAX certified, so you know you're getting a reliable car when you drive off the lot.