Major automakers have announced their January results, and the signs were good overall for the industry, as total auto sales rose 17 percent on average.

Early estimates put the total for 2011 at 12.6 million vehicles. The bump in sales meant that January 2011 is currently tied with December 2010 as the best-selling vehicle month since the federal government's "Cash for Clunkers" program ramped up sales temporarily.

Sales of larger vehicles like pickup trucks and SUVs led the charge, with that particular segment rising 28 percent overall.

"We’re off to a good start for 2011," auto analyst Jesse Toprak told the New York Times. "Gas prices rose quite a bit in the last few months, but that hasn’t deterred people from buying larger vehicles."

Among the domestics, Chrysler and GM both rose 23 percent, while Ford saw a 13 percent bump. Hyundai continued its strong showing with a 22 percent increase, while Toyota rose 17 percent, Honda was up 13 percent and Nissan 15 percent. All automakers except for Mazda posted higher sales than January 2010.

Drivers who are thinking about purchasing a new vehicle may want to shop the used car market first. New Jersey State Auto Auction offers drivers a wide selection with prices well below Kelley Blue Book values.