Cash for Clunkers is over, and the hangover has set in for dealerships trying to sell new vehicles, according to some industry reports. Now may be the time for some shoppers to take a look at used cars in New Jersey, where values have remained constant without government assistance.

Roughly half of the buyers considering a vehicle purchase are putting off plans to purchase a new car, reports the staff at Kelley Blue Book. New incentive packages and initiatives like General Motors’ 60-day money back guarantee have done little to change attitudes; more than 60 percent say incentives play no role in their purchase plans.

“With the ongoing economic recession and the Cash for Clunkers stimulus program over, the latest Kelley Blue Book Market Intelligence data shows that availability of incentives and rebates is no longer enough to persuade car shoppers to deviate from their intended purchase timeframe,” said James Bell, Kelley Blue Book executive market analyst.

Although some buyers indicated that they would be willing to pay more for their next vehicle than they would have several months ago, a used car in New Jersey could offer more value for an owner’s budget.