Winter has finally arrived in full force. With low temperatures, snow flurries and icy roads on the horizon for the next few months, drivers have to become accustomed to dealing with these conditions and all of their side effects. The first step toward a successful season of driving is knowledge: Motorists need to know what to expect in the coming months and how to put themselves in the best position to stay safe. 

Know the effects of the cold
The first thing drivers should be aware of is how winter weather will impact their vehicle. For instance, many may know that tire pressure varies wildly when there's fluctuating temperatures, but fewer make a point to switch to low-viscosity winter oil to protect their engine from the effects of the cold. Having a clear idea of the benefits of preventative maintenance and winter updates will allow you to make smart, informed decisions that ultimately protect yourself and others. 

"Sub-zero temperatures can have a real impact on your vehicle," said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. "Winter magnifies existing problems such as pings, hard starts, sluggish performance and rough idling, and very cold temperatures reduce battery power." 

Keep a full tank – sort of
Stopping to get gas when it's cold outside can be a real nuisance. In New Jersey, drivers are helped by full service stations, but anyone who frequently travels to New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania or another nearby state knows that having someone pump your gas is a special luxury. Don't let it go to waste, and instead make sure you're filling up your fuel regularly. When the tank is about half full – at least – it decreases the risk of freezing gas lines and other problems. Having a full tank also puts you in a better position to deal with slow-moving traffic on the roads or wait out surprise harsh weather. 

Trust your car
When you need your car to get you from one place to another in inclement weather, you need to trust it can do its job. That all starts with having a quality used car. At New Jersey State Auto Auction, you can find an automobile that meets all of your needs without draining your wallet. You can browse through hundreds of Carfax-certified cars, trucks and vans to find one capable of carrying you throughout winter.

Drivers should know that they need to know how to handle themselves on the road at all times, but it becomes even more important when they are surrounded by large trucks. To convey just how essential this knowledge is, the American Trucking Association's professional drivers are participating in AAA Mid-Atlantic's IDrive program. The main aim of the initiative is to teach motorists about the importance of safety on the roads, particularly when driving alongside trucks or tractor-trailers. 

"Safety is the trucking industry's most important value," said ATA president and CEO Bill Graves. "We're always happy for events like IDrive which allow our professionals to reach out to the public – particularly young drivers – and convey that important safety message." 

Everyone who gets behind the wheel should keep these key tips in mind for driving among large trucks. 

Give them room
One of the most important things drivers need to do is leave enough space for bigger vehicles. Trucks and trailers are heavier than traditional cars and therefore require more time and space to stop. It also takes them longer to accelerate. To ensure that these vehicles have the room they need to maneuver on the roads, leave a safety cushion of space. You should also avoid cutting in front of trucks or making sudden stops when around them. 

Know their blind spots
Because trucks take up so much space, they have larger and different blind spots than typical vehicles. Keep in mind that if you can't see a driver or mirrors, then the driver probably doesn't see you either. By leaving plenty of space around trucks and using appropriate driving signals, you can guarantee that you're communicating with them effectively and providing them time to react. 

Focus at all times
There's no excuse for being distracted behind the wheel. A smart driver knows how to block out unnecessary noise to focus on the road ahead, but unfortunately, it's not always that easy. To eliminate some of the distractions, turn off or silence cellphones and other electronic devices. It also helps to square away some details before you start driving. Fix your mirrors, adjust the seat and choose a radio station prior to pulling out onto the road, which ensures you'll have fewer distractions when it matters. 

Ultimately, the best thing drivers can do is make sure that their car is safe enough to drive. Keep up with necessary maintenance by scheduling appointments at a local garage, such as the Total Car Care Center at New Jersey State Auto. That facility caters to the public and can help keep a vehicle running at a high level. 

The brakes are one of the most important aspects of your car, but unlike some other parts, these can easily fall by the wayside. In fact, many drivers don't even think about the brakes until something goes wrong or they need to rely on the brakes to save them from harm – and costly repairs.

Because the brakes are so essential, all drivers should know what signals faulty equipment. Here are three signs that your brakes need some attention: 

1. Things don't feel right 
One of the reasons people don't notice brakes until something is damaged is because we expect the gear to operate relatively smoothly. Any strange grinding of the brakes could be a sign that it's time to head to a professional garage. However, there might be a variety of new feelings that you don't remember. For example, the Car Care Council stated any vibrations or odd pulsing is something that should be noted. You should also check if the car pulls to one side or jerks when the brakes are engaged. 

2. You hear strange sounds  
Between the movies and your own fast-paced adventures on the roads, you've heard brakes squealing before. As much as the noise may make you feel like you're in the middle of an action movie, it's not normal. In fact, any noise made by your brakes is definitely strange, and it could be a sign that it's time for replacements. Screeching, squealing, clicking or any other out-of-place sound should send you running to a garage. 

3. The car's braking habits have changed 
Most drivers probably haven't measured their car's average stopping distance. If you're one of the millions of drivers who aren't actively monitoring braking habits – and let's face it, you probably are – you have to leave it up to a gut feeling. Does it seem like your car is taking longer to come to a full stop? Do you find yourself pressing harder on the brake for the same effect? If any of the answers to these questions are nagging you, it is best for your peace of mind, and your car, if you have a professional check the brakes. 

So what do you do if your car's brakes are exhibiting one or more of these signs? The first thing you should do is schedule an appointment at a garage. NJ State Auto has its own facility, the Total Car Care Center, which caters to the public and could address any issues you may have. 

Anyone who has spent time in the Boy Scouts knows the importance of being prepared. Even if you didn't don the uniform, it's certainly a maxim that should be taken to heart. While car safety features and good driving can go a long way in keeping drivers and passengers safe, it's impossible to predict or prevent every possible snafu. In instances where things don't go as expected, having the right tools on hand can be the difference between inconvenience and disaster. Here are some things to keep in mind when crafting your own driver's survival kit.

Make friends with foresight
Principle No. 1 when it comes to preparing for emergencies is to hope for the best, but plan for the worst. It's a good idea to assume that Murphy's Law counts double when you're in your car, which means that you'll want to prepare for anything that could potentially go wrong. Of course this isn't to say that you should tote around an extra engine "just in case," but in general it's better to over​-prepare than under​-prepare. 

Have your car covered
Automobiles are some of the most complicated machines around. Thankfully, you don't really have to worry about every single component when you're planning for emergencies. In general, there are a few areas that are either more prone to potential issues or more essential to your car's basic operation that you should take into consideration when putting together a survival kit.

As the Department of Motor Vehicles noted, a spare tire is perhaps one of the most necessary emergency repair items to pack, along with a jack and a tire iron, so that if you do encounter a flat, you'll be well equipped to deal with it. On the subject of tires, a pressure gauge is a good thing to carry around, especially since these tools are small and can easily be stowed in your glove compartment. Jumper cables are important to have on hand as well to get yourself out of a pinch if you end up with a bum battery.

Safety first
Nothing is more important in an emergency than your own safety, so make sure your kit has some crisis basics. Reflective cones or flares were recommended Consumer Reports, as they allow you to  create a safe perimeter around your car if you break down on a busy road. Flashlights can help you see better, and they will make you more visible to other cars as well.

If your car needs repairs, make an appointment with the NJ State Auto Auction Total Car Care Center. The knowledgeable mechanics on staff can help you diagnose any maintenance issues, and will perform any necessary repairs to keep your car on the road.

Your car works hard to get you where you need to go every day, but do you understand how? A collection of complex mechanical systems, your vehicle is an ecosystem all on its own, with countless components working together to offer you safe, convenient transportation.

Of course, part of the appeal of a car is that it keeps you as comfortable as it does safe. This task falls to your brakes, suspension and steering.

Brakes
Your car's brakes are what transform it from a rolling safety hazard into a useful piece of transportation. You rely on your brakes to be responsive and effective, but how do they work? 

For such a simple task, your brakes are actually complex pieces of machinery. As CarParts.com explained, when you step on your brake pedal, a hydraulic system injects brake fluid into the wheel. The pressure of this fluid causes brake discs to push up against your car's wheels, creating friction and ultimately slowing it down.

Suspension
The next time you sleep through a long road trip, you should be sure to thank your car's suspension when you wake up. This system is responsible for ensuring you have a smooth ride regardless of road conditions. Comprised of a series of springs and shocks, the NTB Tire & Service Centers reported that this system is important for more than just keeping passengers comfy. In fact, vehicle suspension is an essential part of its handling.

Without the stabilizing power of your car's suspension, bumps and potholes would jostle your car and throw off your steering, or even cause your tires to lose traction with the road. Needless to say, either of these would pose serious safety concerns.

Steering
Like so many of the mechanical systems in your car, the steering is more complicated than you would suspect. Responsible for turning your wheels and keeping your pointed in the direction you want to travel in, power steering is included in nearly all models these days. This is a hydraulic system that uses fluid injection to assist with applying the necessary force to your car's wheels, enabling you to turn your several-ton car without exerting Herculean effort. 

As NTB reported, power steering also helps make sure you don't steer too hard – it responds to how much force you exert on the wheel and compensates accordingly, keeping you on the straight and narrow.

If you're looking for a used car, head to NJ State Auto Auction. You'll find hundreds of Carfax-certified cars on the lot, and an in-house finance team ready to help you get approved for a loan.

Cars are among the most complex machines ever made, and people can often be intimidated by their complex mechanical inner workings. While you don't have to be a professional mechanic or even an extreme enthusiast to enjoy your driving experience, having a basic working knowledge of some of the star parts of your car can be useful, especially when it comes to maintenance.

Tires
These four rubber superheroes do all the heavy lifting when it comes to keeping your car on the road – literally. They may seem simple, after all, the wheel was one of the first human inventions, but in reality there's a lot of science at work keeping you safe.

According to the University of Southern California Illumin engineering review, your tires are all about tread. This is the part that grips the road and keeps you from sliding around. You should make a habit of checking your treads to make sure they're still in working order – if they're too worn, it could be time to change your tires.

Transmission
If there were to be a heart and soul of your car, it would be the transmission. This is one of the most complex components a vehicle contains, both in terms of its construction and the science behind it. In layman's terms, your transmission is what makes your car go. As the Science Channel indicated, it takes the energy generated by the engine and sends – or transmits – it to the part of the car that turns the wheels known as the driveshaft. It's a very basic concept that is practically witchcraft when it comes to the actual execution, which is why "transmission" is the last word you ever want to hear your mechanic say in the shop.

Fluids
Humans are made up of about 70 percent water. While cars may not be quite so aqueous in their construction, they still contain a good amount of various fluids, some of which you're probably already familiar with. Motor oil is probably the most well-known and, arguably, the most important to the auto's operation. According to Autos.com, oil lubricates the engine as it turns and burns and keeps the parts from wearing out. 

Of course, there's more in your car's veins than just motor oil. Everything from brake fluid to washer fluid help your car function. Keeping on top of your  fluid maintenance is important. Not only should they be checked regularly and refilled as needed, certain changes in coloration or viscosity could indicate potential problems.

If your car needs maintenance, head to the NJ State Auto Auction Total Car Care Center. The on-site mechanics will help you identify and problems and get your car back on the road.

Shopping for a car can be as confusing as it is exciting. Understanding the vast array of special features and options many cars come with, not to mention matching them to your specific needs as a driver, can be frustrating. And this doesn't even take into account the added stress of dealership hype surrounding their shiny newer models. 

You may have reservations about purchasing a pre-owned vehicle, but a quality certified used car can be an idea option for a buyer who is looking to get a reliable ride without breaking the bank. Here are some points to consider when you're deciding what car to buy.

Save money now, save money later
If spending less is your primary goal, opting for pre-owned is the way to go. New cars are laden with hidden costs and financial pitfalls that you won't have to deal with when you buy used. In addition to typically bearing a lower sticker price, new cars depreciate, or decline in value, at an alarming rate. Based on data from Edmunds, a new car loses 9 percent of its value as soon as you drive off the lot. In fact, a mere three years after you bring your new ride home, you can expect it to be worth 40 percent less than what you paid for it. Contrast this with the value of a used car, which Consumer Reports mentioned depreciates at a rate of 27 percent in the first three years, and you can see that pre-owned cars offer a much higher value-for-money ratio.

They're more reliable than ever
Sure, you know that used cars cost less, and can even save you money down the road, but isn't it true that you get what you pay for? Won't you just be signing up for a host of mechanical problems when you opt for a used model instead of a new one? According to Consumer Reports, not really. In fact, for lower-income buyers, there hasn't been a better time to buy a pre-owned car and trust in its reliability. Even between 2007 and 2014, the overall reliability of 5-year-old cars increased by 33 percent, the source pointed out. 

As CNN reported, this is in part due to many manufacturers adopting or expanding their used car certification programs. Dealers and manufacturers are putting more of their support behind pre-owned models, implementing stricter inspection standards and warranty coverage, and providing additional peace of mind.

When it's time to shop for a used car, head to NJ State Auto Auction. You'll find hundreds of Carfax-certified cars on the lot, and the in-house finance team is available to help approve you for an affordable auto loan. 

Even though we often take them for granted, there's no denying that cars are very complicated pieces of machinery. There are so many systems and bits of equipment under the hood it can boggle the mind of the less mechanically inclined motorist. While the inner workings of your vehicle may stymie and confuse you, the good news is you don't have to be a mechanic to notice when things are going wrong. Your car will talk to you, and if you know what to listen for, some of these common indicators can alert you to potentially more severe maintenance problems.

Check engine light
The most notorious auto indicator is also probably one of the most poorly understood. This concerning orange light can be triggered by any number of things, and as a result, many people end up driving around with this light on for months. It can point to a variety of potential issues, and while some of them are fairly simple fixes, they all warrant immediate attention to prevent further complications.

If you're lucky, the check engine light could just be trying to tell you that your gas cap is loose – if this is the case, fixing it won't cost you more than a few seconds of your time. Of course, as AutoTrader.com noted, it could also represent anything from a problem with a spark plug to a damaged catalytic converter, which can be serious.

Squeaky brakes
The next time you roll up to a stop sign, take a quick listen. If you hear a squeak when you hit the brakes, that's a bad sign. It's not mice in your car, it's actually indicative of worn-out brake pads. This can reduce your brakes' effectiveness, which is a major safety concern. Once the squeaking upgrades to a more ominous grinding sound, you should head to the mechanic's shop immediately – your car isn't safe to drive.

A bouncy ride
Those who live in an area with poorly paved roads may notice their car dipping and tilting when they brake, accelerate or turn. Far from normal, this can be an indication that your shocks are on their way out. Your shocks absorb and dissipate the impact of driving, protecting your suspension from warping and improving your car's handling ability. When they wear out, your car's suspension can often follow it, which can have a big impact on its handling.

If your car needs maintenance, make an appointment with the NJ State Auto Auction Total Car Care Center. The skilled mechanics can help diagnose car problems and expertly perform maintenance needed to keep your ride on the road.

Buying a pre-owned vehicle can be intimidating, especially if you've never done it before. Any major expense is bound to induce some sort of anxiety. Thankfully, despite what you may think, heading to a dealership isn't at all like walking through the saloon doors in the Wild West. Both dealers and manufacturers want to help you understand the ins and outs of the car you're purchasing as well as the buying process. One tool that's a great resource for nervous shoppers is the Buyers Guide, a document that can potentially put many of your fears about buying a used car to rest.

What is the Buyers Guide?
Dealers who sell used vehicles have to follow the Used Car Rule defined by the Federal Trade Commission. Part of this process involves providing potential buyers with important information on a car and its warranty that could help an on-the-fence car shopper come to a decision. Buying a set of wheels is a big commitment, and the Buyers Guide can remind you of some of the more important considerations to ponder before signing on the dotted line – things that inexperienced buyers may not have even thought of in the first place.

In addition to the make and model of the car in question, the Buyers Guide tells you procedural information such as whether the vehicle is covered by any warranty or being sold "as-is." If there are any warranties, you'll also have access to information about what they cover in terms of percentage of repair costs and specific automotive systems. 

How can it help you?
As an invaluable resource to those shopping for used cars, the Buyers Guide should be a key stop on the road to car ownership. The warranty information it provides is crucial for drivers who want to keep themselves covered in the event any repairs are needed later. 

More generally, the guide also provides helpful advice to those who may be new to the world of shopping for used cars. Aside from basic technical specs, consulting this information will yield such advice as the fact that verbal contracts are very difficult to enforce, and recommends that buyers seek out any agreements in writing. Another key suggestion is that you should submit a used car to a mechanic's inspection before deciding to buy to suss out any maintenance pitfalls. 

As the official website of the FTC noted, dealers are required to display a Buyers Guide on any used cars that they sell, so make a point to seek out that sticker when you're on the lot.

When shopping for a used car, head to NJ State Auto Auction. In addition to the hundreds of Carfax-certified cars, you'll also find an in-house finance team that can help make your high-quality used car, truck or van affordable.

Summer thunderstorms are a common occurrence during the warmer months. While they may rain out your baseball games, they can also provide stunning and awe-inspiring attractions in their own right. Of course, if you happen to be on the road when a downpour kicks up, you may have a slightly different attitude. Severe rainfall can present unique driving hazards, and if you find yourself on the road during a storm, knowing how to handle it can help to ensure your safety.

Know the hazards
One of the risks many drivers are aware of when dealing with excessive rainfall is skidding. The wet pavement can make the roads slippery, resulting in a lack of control in steering and braking. In the event of extremely heavy rain, drivers face the risk of what is known as hydroplaning – an instance where a buildup of water actually pushes underneath a car's tires, causing the car to actually skid or glide above the road. In these scary occurrences, you can lose total control of your car if you're not careful. Taking preventive measures is recommended in poor weather, as well as knowing how to react in the event that your car skids.

Slow down
One of the biggest preventive steps you can take is also one of the simplest – reduce your speed. According to AAA, a car can lose contact with the road in as little as 1/12 inch of rain going as slow as 35 mph. Not only will reducing your speed help you avoid hydroplaning, it will also give you more time to react in the event of an emergency.

Keep your tires in good shape
Your tires are responsible for keeping you safe in your car, and this goes double in the event of poor road conditions. Under-inflated tires can lead to loss of control or reduced handling, which will only be magnified when roads are wet. Check your tire pressure and tread before heading out into a storm, and be sure to replace worn-out tire treads.

What to do in a skid
If you do find yourself hydroplaning, don't panic. By staying calm, it's possible to weather this woeful occurrence safely. Don't slam the brakes or jerk the steering  – instead, ease off the gas slowly and keep steering the wheel in the direction you want the car to go.

When you're shopping for a new car, head to NJ State Auto Auction. You'll find hundreds of Carfax-certified cars on the lot, and an in-house finance team is ready to help you afford the used vehicle of your choice.