The fear of purchasing a "lemon" when shopping for a used car may soon be nothing more than an anecdote to tell future generations. According to The Associated Press, global competition is behind the increased quality of newer models in the past five or so years. Higher quality vehicles are less likely to require auto repair as long as drivers keep up with regular car maintenance.

J.D. Power and Associates recently released the results of this year's Vehicle Dependability Study, which examines the lasting quality of three-year-old vehicles. The results showed a 13 percent improvement across the board from 151 problems per 100 (PP100) vehicles in 2011 to just 132 PP100 for vehicles manufactured in 2009. Since the overall quality has improved across the board, drivers have plenty of options when it comes time to purchase their next vehicle, whether they opt for a new or used model.

"It's very hard to find products that aren't good anymore," Jeremy Anwyl, CEO of Edmunds, told the news source. "In safety, performance and quality, the differences just don't have the material impact."

Until very recently, Honda and Toyota dominated the market for compact cars, but the push for more fuel-efficient vehicles has made smaller cars much more popular among consumers. This rising trend led other automakers to develop their own lineup of smaller vehicles, such as Ford's Focus and General Motor's Chevy Cruze and Sonic.

Whether drivers want to get behind the wheel of a used Honda Civic or Hyundai Elantra, New Jersey State Auto Auction is sure to have a number of affordable makes and models right up their alley. All of their vehicles are CARFAX certified so consumers know they'll be getting a good deal.