The end of the year is often punctuated by "best of" lists and the auto world is no different. Consumer Reports recently unveiled its picks for the 10 most popular used cars of 2011 and one brand stood head and shoulders above the rest.

Honda represented four of the top five used cars this year, with the Civic coming in at the top spot. The popular Accord and CR-V finished second and third, respectively, and the Honda Pilot rounded out the top five. Even the one car that was not a Honda is owned by the company – the Acura MDX was number four.

Foreign-built cars dominated the second half of the list as well. The Toyota Camry, Highlander and RAV 4 each made an appearance as did the Suburu Forrestor. The lone American-made car, the Ford Escape, landed at number 10.

If you are planning on purchasing a used car, there are a number of things to take into consideration other than just its popularity. According to Carfax, there are a few items to look into to make sure you've found the perfect used car.

The most obvious thing to determine is what your car will be used for. In particular, if you are planning on driving with a lot of passengers, an SUV or minivan will be the best pick. However, if fuel-efficiency is more of a concern,  a smaller vehicle should come out on top.

Once that's settled, Carfax urges consumers to do as much research as possible on the models that meet their criteria so they exactly what to expect.

Going to a reliable dealer is also of the utmost importance, and you'll certainly find that with New Jersey State Auto Auction. Additionally, thanks to guaranteed credit approval, making the purchase is easy.

It's no secret that the end of the year is one of the best times to buy used cars, and that is especially true this year. The prices have dropped significantly over the last four months or so, and many industry experts are urging consumers to take action. Most cars have experienced the reduction in price, and CarGurus.com recently unveiled its list of models that will see the biggest drop.

Among the cars that will have the largest reduction in price s the 2007 Toyota Prius, which has dropped about 16 percent over the last three months. The average price of the model was nearly $18,000 in early September. Today, it costs around $15,200.

Just below the 2007 Prius is the 2007 Hyundai Accent. Though it is a little less of a decline in price (13 percent), it still comes in at an especially affordable  – just over $8,600. The 2006 Toyota Corrola also made the list dropping 10 percent from September to December.

The affordability is not limited to just small cars, either. If you're looking for an SUV, you may want to check out the the 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan or the 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid, both of which fell 10 percent.

"The key for year-end shoppers is to do ample online price research so they can move quickly when they find a great deal,' Langley Steinert, founder and CEO of CarGurus. "We expect many of these great savings opportunities we have identified to be gone by early next year, when prices will climb back up."

While the end of the year is one of the best times to buy a used car, at New Jersey State Auto Auction, prices are affordable year round. Furthermore, every model is Carfax certified so you know you're getting a reliable vehicle.

As the calendar moves closer to Christmas, it also nears one of the busiest traveling weekends of the year. Millions of motorists will take to the road to visit their families, and as is the case with any influx of travelers, industry experts anticipate a heightened need for roadside assistance and other maintenance-related issues. You may want to take your car to New Jersey State Auto Auction to ensure it's in its best condition so you're not among the stranded drivers this holiday season.

The American Automobile Association (AAA) estimates that about 83.6 million people will drive to their holiday destinations this year. The organization predicts that around 880,000 of them will need some sort of help. The services can range from replacing batteries to changing tires and experts say such mishaps can easily be avoided.

"Whether you are planning local day trips or long distance year-end holiday travel, having your vehicle properly maintained and prepared for the rigors of holiday driving will help ensure it gets you to your destination safely and without incident," said Marshall L. Doney, the vice president of AAA Automotive.

Many of the problems that AAA is expecting to encounter can be prevented. For instance, the organization is set to deal with 104,000 cases of keys locked inside the vehicle as well as more than 95,000 changed tires. At the lower end, AAA anticipate providing gas to 11,000 people.

Although sometimes car troubles are unavoidable, you should not take the chance of suffering a preventable setback such as a dead battery or any other maintenance-related issue. New Jersey State Auto Auction's Total Car Care Center is the perfect place for drivers to go to be sure their car is running smoothly before a big road trip.

The Honda CR-V has become one of the most popular SUVs on the road today, but anybody who is considering buying a new version of the vehicle in the near future may want to put on the brakes and think about getting a used car. Honda recently announced that it is going to raise the price on some of the redesigned models, USA Today reports.

The manufacturer says the new fleet of CR-Vs, which go on sale December 16, will experience an average rise in price of about $181. However, it all depends on which model a consumer is considering buying. (lengthy) While the models with navigation actually dropped in price others can reach about $30,000.

Although the price for the new CR-V may have risen, the vehicle has certainly earned its popularity. That is why purchasing a used version o the SUV could be a great idea.

Even the industry has taken notice. The Columbus Dispatch reports that the CR-V is up for the North American Truck of the Year award and the winner will be named on January 9. It is certainly up against some tough competition though, with the BMW X3 and Land Rover Range Rover Evoque also earning nominations.

Anybody looking to get behind the wheel of a used CR-V, or any other car for that matter, may want to do so as soon as possible. Analysts predict that used car prices will continue to drop throughout the end of the year and bottom out in early January before climbing back up.

Whether you're looking for an SUV or a compact car, New Jersey State Auto Auction has plenty of makes and models at affordable prices. Furthermore, thanks to the fact that all the vehicles are Carfax certified, you know you're getting a reliable ride.

Most motorists know that getting their car's oil changed on a regular basis is a key component to keeping it on the road as long as possible, but some may be doing so too often. California has launched a campaign to strip the public of the commonly-held belief that they need to go in for the procedure every 3,000 miles, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Since many motorists tend to get their oil changed too many times,  they are not only wasting money but wasting oil as well. The  California Department of Resources, Recycling and Recovery believes that the state's residents go through millions of gallons unnecessarily each year.

Experts say that due to technological advancements in both car engines and the oil itself, motorists can generally get it changed once every 7,500 miles, and in some cases they can wait as long as 10,000 miles. By waiting longer, drivers can take a step toward going green.

"Drivers have a number of ways to reduce the environmental impact of their vehicles, which can also save them money," Don Anair, senior engineer at the Union of Concerned Scientists, told the Times.

The length between oil changes may be longer than in years past, but it does not make it any less important to the health of the vehicle. New Jersey State Auto Auction's Total Car Care center provides drivers with an easy way to get the procedure done. Located in Jersey City and open to the public, the center offers everything from repairs to regular upkeep.

There is a growing amount of empirical evidence demonstrating the link between cellphone use and automobile accidents, and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recently took a step to reduce the number of crashes. The organization released a recommendation that states ban all cellphone use in cars, The New York Times reports.

Currently, no states ban all use of cellphones though some have prohibited texting and use without a hands-free device. Though the suggestion may be met with some resistance, NTSB officials believe it is the right choice to make given the prevalence of accidents caused by distracted driving.

"It's about cognitive distraction," Deborah Hersman, chairwoman of the NTSB, told the Times. "It's about not being engaged at the task at hand. Lives are being lost in the blink of an eye. You can't take it back, you can't have a do over, and you can’t rewind."

Given the recent statistics regarding distracted driving, it's not hard to see why the NTSB made its recommendation. A survey by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration found that most drivers will answer an incoming call while they're behind the wheel, while only 9 percent of respondents said they would pull over to take the call. Furthermore, nine out of 10 respondents support a ban on texting.

In addition to being alert behind the wheel, making a smart purchase of a used car can go a long way to ensure you are safe on the road. New Jersey State Auto Auction has a wide variety of makes and models, including top safety picks like Toyota and Chevrolet, all at affordable prices.

You may not be able to fit it under the tree, but buying a used car during the Christmas season may be one of the best gifts you can give yourself. The auto research website CarGurus.com found that buying a used vehicle in the weeks leading up to Christmas is a much better idea that making that purchase later on in the winter.

That means that you're running out of time to head to dealers like New Jersey State Auto Auction. Analysts say that used car prices will likely stay low until as late as January 8 before they start to climb up again. Making the purchase at the right time could save consumers as much as $800 on a $20,000 purchase. Much of the reason for the low prices has to do with demand, the website says.

"Demand is low during the holiday season, and that translates to lower prices on used vehicles and higher leverage with dealers eager to lock in sales," said Langley Steinert, founder and CEO of the website. "However, demand will come roaring back in the New Year, and dealers will be quick to adjust their prices. If you are planning to buy a car in the next six months, look for a used model and buy it before the New Year."

While prices may be reaching the lowest level of the year, at New Jersey State Auto Auction cars are always reasonably priced. Furthermore, thanks to the fact that the business is an authorized trade-in dealership you can get an even better price on your used car as well as get an instant appraisal on your current model.

There's often a debate over whether cost or quality matters most to consumers, and results of a new study shed some light on what used car shoppers are looking for. Research conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs found that 45 percent of Americans say quality has the biggest impact on what choice they make.

The number of people valuing quality over price is up a bit from 2010 when the same survey found just 37 percent of people placed quality as the most important factor. Despite the fact that the largest group said quality was crucial detail, price still performed well. In fact, 22 percent said that a car's cost was their deciding factor. Safety landed in third with just 15 percent saying it was the most important.

"Choosing a vehicle that balances high quality with a fair price provides the value that consumers are looking for," said industry insider Tracy Hanson.

There are a number of ways that consumers are getting the best used car possible, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). In addition to commonly-held practices like test driving the car, experts cite the importance of checking the vehicle's maintenance history to be sure there are no hidden facts. As a final tip, the FTC suggests doing research on the frequency of repairs on the particular model.

While the findings may make it look like one has to choose between quality and price, at New Jersey State Auto Auction, consumers can not only get an affordable Ford or Toyota but they can also get a reliable, quality ride. Furthermore, each car offered by the dealer is Carfax certified so you know that its reliability has been vetted by a third party. 

Fuel efficient cars have become increasingly popular recently due to consistently high gas prices, but experts say the number of hybrid and electric vehicles is only just starting to rise. Exxon Mobil predicts that as many as one out of every two cars will fall into either category by 2040, The Associated Press reports.

Should the prediction come to pass, there will be a significant increase in the number of hybrids currently on the road. The vehicles, which use a combination of gas and electricity to power their engines, currently account for only about 1 percent of cars today.

Part of the reason for the expected increase is that President Obama has placed added pressure on auto manufacturers to produce cars that get better gas mileage. The requirements insist that manufacturers' fleets have an average fuel efficiency of 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025, a significantly higher rate than today. The edict has apparently had an effect.

"It's evidence that what the Obama administration is doing with fuel economy is working," Deron Lovaas, Federal Transportation Policy Director at the Natural Resources Defense Council, told the AP.

It will still be some time until hybrids and electronic vehicles dominate the highway but there are plenty of ways that you can save money by increasing your fuel efficiency. Perhaps most significantly, keeping your tires properly inflated has proven to go a long way to maintain a high gas mileage.

Of course, getting behind the wheel of the right car can have a big impact as well. New Jersey State Auto Auction will likely have the fuel-efficient ride you're looking for an an affordable price, and every car is Carfax certified so you know you're getting a reliable car.  

Craigslist might seem like a good place to pick up used instruments or furniture,but when it comes to used cars it is probably best to stay away. The FBI says that as many as 15,000 people have been taken for a proverbial ride trying to buy a vehicle through the website over the last several years, the Hartford Courant reports.

Investigators say that the posters put up pictures of cars they don't actually own and ask for surprisingly low prices. However, once the buyer has paid up the car never shows up. The FBI estimates that victims have lost about $45 million to such schemes.

Ben Nguyen took some of the photos that the scammers have been using and was shocked when he stumbled across one of them on Craigslist. He got tipped off to the rouse once he realized that a car that usually goes for about $11,000 was selling for thousands less than that.

"There are all these people in the world that try to get over on you and take your money," Nguyen told the Courant. "It's very disappointing to hear it does happen, but unfortunately it does."

The scams have become more sophisticated and often have the appearance of a legitimate operation, but experts urge consumers to be wary.

Of course there are ways to avoid becoming the victim of such a scheme and buying cars through a reputable dealer like New Jersey State Auto Auction is one of the best ways to do so. The dealer offers a wide variety of makes and models at affordable prices and every ride is Carfax certified so you know you're getting a reliable vehicle.