While automakers like General Motors and Chrysler have offered incentives on new cars, many consumers are considering used cars in New York because of the lower costs generally associated with buying pre-owned cars.

That includes many people who buy from used car auctions, where sales have risen 16 percent since January, according to a Manheim industry report cited by DailyFinance.com.

Despite the incentives available for new vehicle purchases, the news provider finds that many people are looking for deals in used cars because of the decreased difficulty in garnering used car loans, as well as a lack of consumer confidence in the warranties and other maintenance options offered on new cars.

The difficulty for consumers who are looking for a bargain now may be trying to figure out what car best fits their needs, and how much it will actually cost them to own it through the several years they expect to be driving their purchase.

One of the choices that a consumer may make is cost, but that doesn’t just extend to the price they pay at a used car auction; drivers may also want to know the cost of ownership based on maintenance and repair costs.

Those who are considering used cars in New York and other states have the ability to go on sites like Edmunds.com which offers a “true cost to own” index for many cars, based on other drivers’ reports and which breaks down costs for repairs, maintenance like oil changes as well as the price of gas or other incidentals.

The price of gas may also push some drivers to more fuel-efficient cars that may offer more miles per gallon of gas than similar vehicles.

While used Toyota Corollas in New York and used Honda Civics have often been thought of as gas sippers because of their relatively small size, an article in the L.A. Times also finds other cars that may interest buyers looking for low-cost cars that offer good mileage, without the higher price tag of some hybrids.

Those who consider a used Toyota Yaris or a used Scion xD in New York could also find that costs at the pump are reduced: both models are updated versions of cars found in Europe and Japan where efficiency is important because of higher gas prices in those countries.