Gas prices have been on a steady rise over the last few weeks, prompting many analysts to predict that consumers will place an even greater emphasis on fuel-efficiency when shopping for used cars. According to Kelley Blue Book's Hot Used Car Report for February, they hit the nail on the head.

The report, which measures the activity of used car shoppers on kbb.com, found there was an increase in the number of shoppers researching fuel-efficient vehicles last month. The growth in research of hybrid cars was at the top of the list. The segment experienced a 12.2 percent rise in the number of people looking into purchasing these fuel-efficient vehicles and it was significantly higher than the next-closest competitor.

February also saw an increase in the number of people researching compact cars, though to a lesser degree of hybrids. The segment had a 3.7 percent increase in shopping activity, while sports cars had a 2.8 percent rise. Minivans (2.7 percent) and subcompact cars (2.4 percent) rounded out the top five.

There was a decrease in the number of shoppers looking at mid-size crossovers, a usual favorite among drivers, which did not come as a surprise to some analysts.

"When the price at the pumps is at play, customers will stray," said Arthur Henry, a market analyst for Kelley Blue Book.

Doing research is an integral part of the used car shopping process, especially if you're looking to find one with the best gas mileage. New Jersey State Auto Auction has plenty of fuel-efficient models at affordable prices, and all their vehicles are CARFAX certified so you know you're getting a reliable product.

There has been growing competition among automakers to earn praise for their certified pre-owned (CPO) vehicles, and that was on display recently at the 2012 IntelliChoice CPO awards in Las Vegas. The annual event highlights the best used cars in the market and in its 13 years has helped consumers drive away in more reliable vehicles, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The manufacturers themselves can benefit from coming out on top at the IntelliChoice awards, but some analysts say that it is drivers who come out as winners. Thanks to the increased competition among automakers, anybody shopping for a used car in the last several years has likely seen a growth in quality.

"We continue to see marginal year-over-year improvements in CPO program features across all makes, indicating that consumers can benefit from the ever-increasing competition in this market segment," Tyler Schulze, vice president and general manager of IntelliChoice told the Times.

Of course, there are some brands that stand out among the rest. One of the big surprises at the IntelliChoice awards recently was Hyundai. The manufacturer placed first in the "Popular Division," marking a vast improvement in its performance over the last several years. The big reason for its success is a 10-year/100,000 mile powertrain warranty that has resonated well with consumers. Other names in the top five included Volkswagen, Honda, Mini and Toyota.

Whether you're looking for a Hyundai or a used Ford, New Jersey State Auto Auction is the place to go. With a wide variety of makes and models at affordable prices, there is something for everyone, and every car is CARFAX certified so you know you're getting a reliable vehicle in the process.

Anybody who's ever owned a car knows that it costs more than the price tag indicates. Between insurance, filling up at the pump and maintenance, sometimes people can be shocked at the overall cost of driving. However, there are certain cars that have a much lower cost of ownership than others, according to Kiplinger.com.

Many people may be turned off by the high initial price of hybrids, but that's not the case with the Honda Insight. A lot of the time people cite the fact that hybrids require a lot of maintenance, but with the Insight the total cost of five-year repairs and upkeep is only about $3,300. This is about the same as owning a gas-powered car. Throw in the fact that you'll save a great deal of money on gas and it turns out to be one of the most affordable cars on the road.

Kia has come a long way over the last few years in terms of reliability. Though their cars are just as affordable as ever, the brand's reputation has become a lot better. That is especially true with the Kia Rio, which is one of the cheapest cars to own, the website says. The total five-year cost of ownership comes out to under $30,000 thanks in large part to low fuel and insurance costs.

At the top of the list is the Nissan Versa. Thanks to a redesign and some top-of-the-line amenities, the Versa offers luxury at an affordable price, the website says. With a 36 mile-per-gallon fuel economy and low insurance rates, the five year cost sits at just over $27,000.

Though there are other things to consider, a low initial cost is still important. New Jersey State Auto Auction offers consumers a wide variety of makes and models at affordable prices.

Although technological advancements have made cars capable of doing things they never could before, it has also increased the opportunities for distracted driving. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is looking into limiting in-car distractions, but automakers say the government should focus on motorists bringing in outside devices instead, The Detroit News reports.

The NHTSA believes that automakers are creating distractions for drivers by offering in-car electronics such as OnStar, text messaging and web browsing. The administration hopes to create a series of voluntary guidelines that manufacturers should follow to make drivers safer.

"Distracted driving is unsafe, irresponsible and can have deadly consequences," NHTSA Administrator David Strickland told the newspaper.

Some automakers have bristled at the proposed legislation, however, saying that there is only so much they can do. Manufacturing regulations will not change the fact that motorists will bring their phones in the car, and car company officials claim that built-in devices are much safer. Some, like Mercedes-Benz USA senior manager for safety affairs Markus Hess, point out that changing in-car systems would be a significant undertaking and may not even create a much safer environment.

"This would be a resource-intensive process and would not provide net safety benefits to the driving public," he told The Detroit News.

There have already been a number of laws put in place to help limit distracted driving. Currently, 35 states and Washington, D.C. have made texting and driving illegal, but some are still struggling to do so. Several bills in Florida, for instance, have gone nowhere in the state legilsature, CBSMiami reports.

Being smart behind the wheel is a crucial part of road safety, but so is having a vehicle that's running properly. New Jersey State Auto Auction's Total Car Care center offers repairs and maintenance to make sure your car is as safe as possible.

Ford has always been at the forefront of innovation in the automotive world, and the iconic automaker recently took its advertising campaign to a whole new level. Ford has paired with NBC to launch a new reality show, dubbed Escape Routes, meant to promote the manufacturer's latest incarnation of the Ford Escape.

The show will pit six two-person teams against each other in a road trip across the country. In addition to having to traverse the United States in a 2012 Ford Escape, teams will also be tasked with overcoming physical and mental challenges in the process. The show is set to debut on March 31 and is one of the first times a company has turned to reality television as a means of advertising one of its products.

"Marketers have been trying for the past decade or so to go beyond the 30-second commercial or two-page ad in a newspaper," Matt Van Dyke, Ford’s director of U.S. marketing, told Forbes. "It used to be you could pay for product placement. Now with the advent of social media, it’s an opportunity to leverage the convergence of TV and interactive media."

The move may be an important one for Ford. The Escape had long been one of the top 10 most popular cars in the United States, but all that changed in February. The crossover fell off the list for the first time in nine months after it only experienced a 3.7 percent boost in sales, according to USA Today.

Whether you're looking to take a cross-country road trip like the contestants on Escape Route, or have simply been ignoring auto maintenance, a trip to New Jersey State Auto Auction's Total Car Care center may be in order. With a knowledgeable staff, New Jersey Auto can help you with any repair or general upkeep.

Many automakers have expressed interest in manufacturing cars powered by compressed natural gas, and one of the leading companies is taking its efforts to the next level. Honda, which is currently the only company selling such cars to U.S. drivers, wants its dealers to be outfitted with natural gas pumps to encourage motorists to buy the alternatively-powered vehicles, Bloomberg reports.

Honda has already taken steps to make the plan a reality. In particular, the company is talking to regulators in the hopes of having natural gas pumps installed at two California dealerships later this year with the end goal of selling more Honda Civic Natural Gas sedans.

Although Honda wants to add stations to its dealers, there are a growing number of other pumps sprouting up across the country. As of December 2010, there were already around 1,000 stations in the United States. Honda's plan may help fill some holes.

"We’re adding stations rapidly," Richard Kolodziej, president of Natural Gas Vehicles for America, told Bloomberg. "If you are in an area where there aren’t any fueling stations, this is a great option."

The push for more natural gas fueling options comes after Chrysler announced it is planning to produce trucks powered by the fuel. According to The Associated Press, it hopes to manufacture a new Dodge Ram that runs on natural gas, and begin shipping by July.This is similar to a plan by General Motors, which hopes to release versions of the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra that would run on the fuel.

It may be some time until natural gas becomes common on America's roads, but until then you can still purchase a fuel-efficient used car from New Jersey State Auto Auction. With a wide variety of makes and models at affordable prices, there's something for everyone.

President Barack Obama has made no secret of his desire for car manufacturers to provide alternative fuel options, and on Wednesday he took things one step farther. In a speech in Mount Holly, North Carolina, Obama pitched a tax credit for drivers who purchase vehicles that run on alternative fuel, Bloomberg reports.

The proposal is not surprising given Obama's focus on alternative energy, but he has made a point in recent weeks to discuss the topic given the rising gas prices. The average price of a gallon of gas is currently at around $3.76, and Obama has steadfastly maintained that more drilling is not the answer to getting the number lower. Along with offering tax breaks to families that buy alternatively-powered cars, Obama will also make things easier for cities to do the same.

"To cities and towns all across the country, what we’re going to say is, if you make a commitment to buy more advanced vehicles for your community – whether they run on electricity or biofuels or natural gas – we’ll help you cut through the red tape and build fueling stations nearby," he told the audience.

Auto manufacturers seem to have received the message. There have been a growing number of cars running on fuel sources other than gasoline. Most notably, electric cars like the Nissan Leaf and Chevy Volt grabbed headlines in 2011, but upcoming releases such as the Ford Focus Electric should raise the bar.

Though it might be some time until all vehicles on the road are running on electricity or natural gas, there are still ways to save money on fuel. Buying a car with excellent gas mileage is one easy way, and New Jersey State Auto Auction offers a wide variety of makes and models that will get you plenty of miles to the gallon.

Toyota announced a recall of nearly 700,000 cars on Thursday, citing potential problems with the airbags and brake lights. The issue affects Camrys, Venzas and Tacomas ranging from as far back as 2005 all the way through 2011 model years, The Wall Street Journal reports.

The issue in the Venza and Camry recall is that silicon grease may have made its way into the stop-lamp switch during assembly. As a result of the defect, some cars could experience problems as minor as the warning lights on the dashboard turning on. However, drivers could also experience more significant problems like the engine having trouble starting or the transmission being shifted out of park.

As for the Tacoma, the potential issue has to do with the steering wheel spiral cable. The manufacturer says that the cable can potentially rub against its container, causing friction that could disrupt the function of the driver's airbags, according to the newspaper.

Toyota is not the only major company to announce a significant recall recently. Chrysler just recalled around 210,000 Jeep Liberties from the 2004 and 2005 model years that could potentially lose their rear wheels, USA Today reports. The company says that the vehicles were constructed with rear lower control arms that potentially may rust through, which could cause a crash.

In addition to staying on top of recalls, regular auto maintenance is a crucial part of making sure your car runs smoothly. New Jersey State Auto Auction's Total Car Care center is a great place to go for all of your maintenance needs, whether it be general upkeep or a repair. With a knowledgeable staff, NJ Auto makes sure you'll be able to keep driving your car for years to come.

With gas prices expected to eclipse $4 per gallon in the near future, many people fear the price of used fuel-efficient cars may experience a significant jump. Though the cost may rise a bit, the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) believes it will not be enough to change consumer behavior.

Drivers have been used to high gas prices for quite some time. While many people are worried that fuel is on the way up, even at a relatively low $3.50 per gallon, motorists are still paying much more than a decade ago, and they have come to terms with that. As a result, shoppers may not change their activity that drastically.

"Considering consumers have become accustomed to gasoline prices that averaged more than $3.50 last year, this time around we don't expect to see dramatic shifts in the shopping behavior of consumers for more fuel-efficient vehicles when prices approach the $4 mark," NADA's executive automotive analyst Jonathan Banks said.

Just because drivers have become used to high gas prices doesn't mean that you shouldn't look for ways to save money at the pump wherever possible. Aside from purchasing a used car that gets good mileage, how you drive your vehicle can have a significant impact as well.

Taking care of your tires is one of the most important aspects of maintaining a fuel-efficient car. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), having properly inflated tires can increase gas mileage by as much as 3 percent.

Whether you let the price of gas affect your purchases or not, New Jersey State Auto Auction likely has the car for you. With a wide variety of makes and models at affordable prices, there is something for everybody.

In an effort to take advantage of the growing call for alternative fuels, General Motors is going to introduce a line of pickup trucks powered by natural gas. GM recently announced it will release bi-fuel versions of its Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra trucks, Fox News reports.

The most important detail about the innovative vehicles is that they give motorists the chance to drive wherever they want without having to worry about finding a fueling station that offers natural gas. As their default setting, the trucks will be powered by the natural gas, but if that tank runs out the engine will switch to gasoline. Drivers can also choose to switch to gasoline by themselves if they hit a button.

"Range anxiety is very real," Joyce Mattman, director of GM commercial product and specialty vehicles, told the news source. "We worked with the Chevy Volt team on that, and saw the same issues."

There are a number of advantages to powering cars, especially trucks, with natural gas. Perhaps most importantly, natural gas is cheaper than gasoline. This is an especially perscient issue right now, given that gas prices could surpass $4 per gallon in the very near future.

According to Fox, trucks powered by natural gas are also more environmentally friendly. Specifically, vehicles that use the fuel produce about 25 percent fewer carbon emissions than standard cars. Additionally, because about 98 percent of natural gas is produced in the United States it can help reduce dependence on foreign oil.

Though natural gas-powered vehicles are still uncommon, there are other ways to save money on gas. One such way is buying a fuel-efficient car at New Jersey State Auto Auction. With a wide variety of makes and models there is something for everybody.