When your vehicle starts to need more work more often, it might be time to say goodbye and start thinking about used cars to replace your current ride. Yet, this doesn't mean you should dump your car the minute it needs a major repair. It's important to weight your options when you're facing extensive auto body work, as the cost may be worth it in some cases, but in others, it might be best to ditch your ride and get behind the wheel of something in better shape.

If you're looking at an extensive repair, you should take more than just the bill into consideration. Are you still making loan payments or is the vehicle paid off? If the car is completely paid off, it might be worth it to shell out the money for this one-time expense rather than enter into a new loan contract that will put added pressure on your budget. If you have a loan, you may be able to refinance it to make room in your budget for the repairs or you can consider selling the vehicle if its worth is greater than the outstanding balance, such as if you're only a few months away from paying it off entirely.

It is also a good idea to weigh the age and current state of the vehicle. If there are many minor issues as well as the larger one, you may wind up spending more in repairs to get the car up and running than it would cost to get a new one. Plus, if the vehicle is already pretty old, chances are you'll have to replace it sooner than later. On the other hand, a newer car that needs a replacement part may be worth fixing, as most of the other parts and accessories are likely still in good shape, so the vehicle will last longer once the repairs have been made.

If you're ready to give up on your current vehicle, you can head to New Jersey State Auto Auction, which carries a wide selection of affordable and reliable used cars, trucks and SUVs.