Consumers have turned to the internet to revolutionize the way they shop for almost everything, and that includes cars. In fact, more and more shoppers are using website such as New Jersey Auto Auction to research, and even purchase, their cars, the Los Angeles Times reports.

The appeal of online shopping is obvious since it allows consumers to make purchases from the comfort of their own homes, and when it comes to cars, the benefits are even more apparent. Instead of having to go down to the nearest dealership, now buyers can simply log on and get all the information they need. The process is so simple in fact, that J.D. Power and Associates found 80 percent of consumers go online to research when buying a car.

"That whole concept of working out a deal and coming out with a final price is the area of car buying where customers are the most dissatisfied," Jim Gaz, senior director of automotive retail research at J.D. Power, told the Times.

New Jersey Auto Auction offers consumers in the Tri-State area one such resource for both buying and selling cars. In fact, the website can provide you with an instant appraisal on how much trade-in value your car has so that you can get an honest and fair estimate of its worth.

New Jersey Auto also ensures consumers get the highest-quality used cars by providing them with free Carfax reports on the history of the car they're thinking about buying, so they can rest easy they are not driving off in a car that has secret damage. And, as always, the company offers numerous makes and models at affordable prices.

Knowing how often to get your oil changed may seem basic for used car owners, but itcan often be much more complicated than people realize. In years past, there was a general rule of thumb that you should get it changed every three months or 3,000 miles, but with better motor oil and more complicated cars, those things can change. Regardless of how often you go, New Jersey Auto Auction offers its customers with affordable, reliable service.

Though it can change from car to car, the hosts of NPR's Car Talk recently spoke with MSNBC about what's a good interval, and they say that there is a good way to maintain the health of your used car.

"It may be too soon for many people and too late for a few," they told the website. "But for the vast majority, 5,000-mile oil changes will help your engine last to a ripe, old age."

Getting your used car to reach that old age is something that more and more drivers are hoping to achieve. In fact, according to Rebecca Lindland, the director of strategic review at IHS Automotive, the average age of cars on the road is an impressive 10.6 years, which is indicative of the growing desire of drivers to get the most out of their vehicles, driving an average of 13,400 miles each year.

The New Jersey State Auto Auction has a Full Auto Service Center located in Jersey City. The company provides discounted auto repair and auto maintenance for their customers. Call Brian at 201-200-1100 for our current Service Specials and ask for our Current Coupons.

Whether you drive a used Ford or BMW, chances are that it will need to be serviced at some point to ensure that it keeps running smoothly. One of the most common problems that drivers may encounter is a burned valve, which many cars are prone to developing after 80,000 miles or so. This often requires service, but luckily New Jersey Auto Auction provides their customers with quality service and maintenance at an affordable price.

A burned valve occurs when the piece has overheated, which causes it to lose its ability to prevent leaks. There is really no way to completely fix the problem other than replacement. Sometimes this can be an unavoidable cost of car ownership, as valves tend to wear down over time, and according to IHS, with the average miles driven per year standing at about 13,400, they add up quickly.

Some used car drivers may be afraid of getting their vehicle worked on. After all, maybe getting it fixed will not be worth it if you'll just be replacing the car in a few years. However, recent statistics seem to prove that theory wrong, and getting your used car fixed is the best way to boost its staying power.
Rebecca Lindland, the automotive expert for publishing company IHS Inc. recently spoke with Bloomberg Radio and revealed that the average age of a car on the road is an impressive 10.6 years, proving that more drivers are getting their car fixed and serviced to keep them running longer.

The New Jersey State Auto Auction has a Full Auto Service Center located in Jersey City. The company provides discounted auto repair and auto maintenance for their customers. Call Brian at 201-200-1100 for our current Service Specials and ask for our Current Coupons. 

There are plenty of reasoins to buy a used car. Though they may come at a lower price than new vehicles, used cars still offer a reliable option while out on the road and the other costs, from taxes to insurance, are generally lower as well. Still, if you're not careful there are a number of pitfalls you can encounter while shopping around for a used car, but if you take a few steps and stop by New Jersey Auto Auction you will be able to avoid them.

Making sure you're looking into a Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) vehicle may be the most important thing to remember. These are cars that have less than 50,000 miles and have been inspected to ensure that they are up to snuff, CNN reports. Certified purchases make up about 40 percent of all used-car purchases and most big automakers, from Ford to General Motors, have their own CPO programs.

Still, while a CPO may be the way to go, doing a background check on the car is also recommended. It can be the only way to be sure you know what your car has gone through, whether it be flood damage or an accident. New Jersey Auto Auction gives consumers an easy way to do just that by offering a free Carfax vehicle history reports.

If you're at a loss for what type of type of car check out, there are several models that often have stood above the rest in terms of reliability. According to CNN, the Toyota Corolla has long been a favorite used car among consumers for a number of reasons. Not only are Corollas around the safest cars on the road, they also maintain their value exceptionally well.

If you're looking for a more family-friendly car, experts suggest the Honda Odyssey. The popular minivan has managed to stay at the top of its class thanks to an excellent design and high resale value.

Whether you're looking to get behind the wheel of a sedan or a minivan, New Jersey Auto Auction offers you a reliable, affordable option to check out any number of makes and models, often sold at below their Kelly Blue Book value.

As cars and smartphones become increasingly connected, one group is trying to make sure that drivers don't have to think twice about whether or not their phone will work in their vehicle. The Car Connectivity Consortium (CCC) recently launched the MirrorLink to ensure drivers are getting the most out of technology, USA Today reports.

The thought process behind the network is that any phone with the MirrorLink logo should be able to connect to any car with the same logo without any problem. This will make it easier to access Bluetooth and other accessories, and Nokia is already on board with the project. Theoretically, this could allow drivers to make use of the maps on their phone rather than splurging for an on-board navigation system.

"The types of apps available will only be limited by the creativity of the software community," the CCC says, according to the publication. "MirrorLink makes it easy for developers to create apps or modify their existing apps and target a wide section of the market. "

One of the most useful apps available to drivers is Drivesafe.ly, which reads texts, emails and other messages aloud so motorist are not distracted on the road.

All too often, used car dealers may try to sell flood-damaged cars without letting the prospective buyers know, and the Insurance Information Institute (III) is helping buyers to be on the look out for signs of flood damage.

One of the easiest signs to spot is if there is mildew, debris or silt in unusual places in the car. For instance, if they make their way into spots such as the carpeting, trunk or around the engine compartment, it should tip you off.

Some more subtle hints come in the form of changes in upholstery. Faded fabrics or water stains are an instant indication, and discolored seatbelts can be telling as well.

"To avoid inadvertently purchasing a flood-damaged car, it is important that you only buy a used car from a reputable dealer, have a certified mechanic look for flood damage and check the car's VIN number by using a credible industry database," said Jeanne M. Salvatore, the consumer spokesperson for the III.

New Jersey Auto Auction offers buyers a reputable place to buy used cars at affordable prices.

Edmunds.com is one of the most popular resources on the internet for people looking for pricing information on their cars, and the company recently maderesearching on the go a little bit easier. The company updated its smartphone app with the most up-to-date research on new and used cars, including trade-in values and retail prices.

The app is designed specifically for the Android. Although it was popular when it was first launched, Edmunds.com received a significant amount of feedback from users who would like info on used car and trade-ins, and they apparently took the message to heart.

"The initial launch of our Android app for new car research was a major success and the most common feedback we received was a strong desire for used car information," said Jennifer Cleverley, director of mobile technology at Edmunds.com. "We heard that feedback loud and clear, and car buyers now have an even better app to help them negotiate their new or used vehicle purchases with confidence."

In addition to taking advantages of programs like the Edmunds.com app, there are a number of things you can do to ensure that you get the best price possible when trading in your car. According to AutoTrader.com, one of the best things you can do is to put some effort into making your car look nicer.

There are a number of small steps you can take, like washing and waxing the exterior, but turning your attention toward the inside can have big impact as well. A thorough cleaning, including the upholstery, rugs and mats, and adding an air freshener for good measure, will all pay off in the long run.

Of course, you can't just head in to trade-in your car blindly, either. The publication reports that sellers must do their due diligence when it comes to researching how much they can reasonably expect to get for their car.

Finally, it would behoove you to make sure that you have all your records in order before heading off to the dealer. In particular, it is important to have all documentation of maintenance to prove to the dealers that the car was well taken care off, according to the website.

The holiday season is a great time to score deals on many different items, and it seems like it's also the right time to get a new car as well. Experts say that December often has the greatest discounts because many dealers are feeling pressure to get rid of their current year's cars to make room for the newer models, ABC News reports.

The evidence seems to stack up in favor of buying in December when analysts point out specifics. In particular, the average discount offered when consumers buy a car in December is about 6.5 percent compared to 4.5 percent during the rest of the year.

Even if you can't buy a car in December, waiting until the end of the month to make a purchase could turn out to be a wise decision, according to the news source. Industry insiders say that some salesmen have incentives to sell a certain amount of cars each month and may be more willing to offer a discount as crunch time approaches.

Drivers hoping to get behind the wheel of a new or used car may want to turn to New Jersey Auto Auction as well, which offers many makes and models at affordable prices.

Cars have added numerous technological advancements over the last several years, and 2012 should be no different. CBS Money Watch recently previewed some of the most-anticipated additions to be unveiled in the coming months.

Perhaps the most impressive way with which cars have been using technology is to improve safety. This will be at the front and center of some 2012 models, which have added accident avoidance systems. The Chevrolet Equinox, for one, has a lane departure warning, which alerts drivers if they are drifting, and a collision warning features that automatically puts on the brakes.

"We expect these new systems to be [available] on many mainstream models within a few years," Russ Rader of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety told the news source.

There are also advancements being made that will improve the overall driving experience. A number of cars, including the Dodge Charger, have been outfitted with innovative eight-speed transmissions that significantly boost the cars' gas mileage.

Drivers looking to take advantage of some of the recent technology in used cars may want to head to New Jersey Auto Auction, which offers plenty of makes and models at affordable prices. 

Scientists at Germany's Free University have created one of the first self-driving cars in the world. Using a specially outfitted Volkswagen Passat, the team has been testing the car in the streets of Berlin all summer long, and according to the Associated Press the results have been impressive.

The process certainly hasn't been an easy one. The research team has been working on the project for around four years and put in about $550,000 worth of special devices on board the Passat including computers, electronics and a precision satellite navigation system.

"The vehicle can recognize other cars on the road, pedestrians, buildings and trees up to 70 meters around it, and even see if the traffic lights ahead are red or green and react accordingly," the head of the research team Raul Rojas told the AP and other reporters at a presentation.

The team was allowed to test the car in real traffic as long as there was a safety driver behind the wheel – even if he or she was not touching anything. It was also allowed to be tested in special areas without the safety net.

The car is similar to one Google has been testing in the street of Nevada, though the company has been very secretive about its successes thus far.