When it comes time to start thinking about buying your next car, you might not immediately think about what you’re going to do with your current ride. Those who drive their cars into the ground can scrap them or donate them to charity, but if your vehicle is still in working condition, you can opt to sell it privately or trade it in at a dealer. According to the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA), a trade-in may be the best way to go this year.

“Car buyers will find 2013 another excellent year to trade in their current vehicles for either new or previously owned cars or trucks,” Jonathan Banks, executive automotive analyst with the NADA Used Car Guide, explained at the NADA Convention and Expo in Orlando, Florida.

Banks went on to highlight a number of factors that are likely to affect your ability to get a good deal when you trade in your vehicle, which all stem from the overall improvements in the economy. First, lending is improving, and more people are applying for loans to buy new and used cars, so dealers will be looking to increase their inventories to meet the growing demand. More people are returning to dealerships ready to buy, thanks to improving housing and construction industries that are creating jobs and stimulating economic growth.

It also hasn’t hurt the used vehicle market that the number of new vehicles being sold has increased so dramatically in recent months. More people buying new models means more 1- to 3-year-old vehicles becoming available for used car shoppers.

Those in the market for previously owned vehicles can head to New Jersey State Auto Auction. The dealer has a wide selection of makes and models, and every car on the lot is CARFAX certified. Plus, NJ Auto Auction offers top dollar for trade-in vehicles.