The school year is coming to an end, and some lucky grads out there may be receiving a new or used car from their parents in recognition of their accomplishment. Though a young graduate may be happy with any car, parents should be sure to make the decision carefully. But according to the United States Automobile Association (USAA),  there are some vehicles that are especially well-suited for teens and other young drivers.

The best car for teens, according to the organization, is the sporty Scion tC, followed closely by the more unique Nissan Cube. The fuel-efficient Honda Fit landed in third place, while the Scion XD and Scion X8 rounded out the top five.

USAA's list took a number of factors into consideration, but it mainly focused on what the parents of teens value most in car. A study conducted by the organization found that 81 percent of parents cited reliability as the most important factor when buying their son or daughter a car. Furthermore, around 73 percent said the same about safety, while affordable auto insurance was important to 62 percent of parents.

"The goal of the list is to help members identify vehicles that offer better safety ratings, lower insurance premium costs, higher fuel economy, better overall reliability and lower MSRP compared to other vehicles in the same category."

Whether you're looking for a car to give to your son or daughter, or just want to pick up a used car in NJ, New Jersey State Auto Auction is the place to go. Thanks to a wide variety of makes and models at affordable prices, everyone can walk away happy.

Nearly two months ago, a team of drivers took off in four Land Rovers from Birmingham, England, and headed to Beijing, China. The trip, taken to retrace a similar journey made in 1956, took 50 days and covered 8,000 miles of rural and urban roads in 13 countries. Even with careful planning, the team encountered a number of roadblocks that set them off course and delayed the journey. However, their April 26 arrival still coincided with AutoChina 2012, Beijing's annual car show.

After a short visit to the Geneva Motor Show, the caravan of Land Rovers headed to Italy's Aosta Valley, where the motorists witnessed a controlled avalanche. To keep the winter theme alive, the drivers headed to Austria to try their hand at ice driving. The tour also included stops in Vienna, Budapest and even Chernobyl, Russia. After touring the site of the devastating nuclear meltdown, the Land Rover parade stopped briefly in Moscow before heading across the natural landscape of Eastern Russia to China.

When the SUVs finally reached the alpine pass leading into China, the road was blocked with snow, which delayed the journey a few days. After the snow was cleared, it took the drivers another 72 hours to reach Beijing, but not without a few stops in between.

American drivers who are planning to take their own road trips this summer will not likely encounter the same winter conditions as the Land Rover Squad did. However, it is essential they make sure their cars are running smoothly before they hit the road. New Jersey State Auto Auction's Total Car Care Center is a great place for people with used cars in NJ to take their vehicles for a tuneup before they leave on an 8,000-mile journey of their own.

The new 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 recently made waves in the high-performance world with a little aftermarket tweaking by the Lingenfelter Performance Engineering company. After upgrading the supercharged 6.2-liter V8 from 580 horsepower to more than 700 horses with three upgrade packages, the company took the car to the Muncie Dragway in Albany, Indiana, on Monday to put it to the test.

David Freiburger, the editor-in-chief of HOT ROD magazine, got behind the wheel of this supercharged muscle car and put the pedal to the metal. He raced the Camaro up to 202.67 miles per hour, the first time a ZL1 passed the 200-mph mark. This test run also boasted another first for the Camaro ZL1, a quarter-mile drive in less than 11 seconds. The Chevy's first run in the 10s took 10.79 seconds with a top speed of 134.36 mph.

"The Lingenfelter crew couldn't be more excited to make history as the first 2012 ZL1 Camaro to exceed 200 mph, and to celebrate this victory on the heels of becoming the first company to run a ZL1 in the 10s," said Ken Lingenfelter, owner of Lingenfelter Performance Engineering. "We are very proud to have David drive our car and to share this accomplishment with HOT ROD magazine, an icon in the world of speed and high-performance vehicles."

The performance company installed a custom camshaft, special cylinder heads, new top and bottom pulleys, a custom air intake filter, tires and wheels. This gave the car 720 hp and 650 lb-ft. of torque, making it more powerful than the 2013 Shelby GT500, which claims to be the most powerful production car in the world.

While a high-powered race car may not be in the cards for every driver, those looking for used cars in NJ with a bit of a kick will find plenty of makes and models at New Jersey State Auto Auction.

School is almost out for the summer, which means teenage drivers will have a lot more time to spend behind the wheel. May is National Traffic Safety Month and many organizations, safety advocates and teenage groups are placing added emphasis on the importance of safe driving practices for young drivers this summer.

"These tragic crashes and statistics are preventable and it is time we all work together to put an end to summer breaks that end in loss and pain for families of young drivers. The National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS) Coalition leads this annual campaign with national youth organizations, federal and state leaders and business and industry partners," said Sandy Spavone, the executive director of NOYS. "Together these groups supporting and promoting youth efforts will save lives and prevent injuries."

NYOS and its partners will focus the campaign on raising awareness about the dangers of driving while impaired, not wearing seat belts and distractions behind the wheel. Everything from talking to passengers and playing with the radio to texting and eating can increase the risk of an accident. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports reading a text takes about 4.6 seconds, and when a car is traveling about 55 miles per hour, the driver's eyes will leave the road for about 100 yards, or the length of a football field.

Many new and pre-owned cars are loaded with safety features designed to reduce the risk of accidents, such as blind spot warnings and lane assist. There are also smartphone apps that can detect when a car is moving and stop incoming calls and texts from distracting the driver.

Parents who are searching for used cars in NJ for their teen driver can check out New Jersey State Auto Auction. This car dealer carries a wide selection of makes and models so parents are sure to find a safe, reliable ride for the new driver in their family.

Some people looking for a used car in New Jersey are searching for a vehicle that can hold a lot of cargo and passengers, while others may prioritize performance. But what if you need both? According to the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA), there are a number of versatile cars that consumers can find for an affordable price.

Kia has had quite the resurgence over the past several years, and the trend continues with the Rio SX Five Door making the cut. The subcompact gets an impressive 138 horsepower while still enjoying around 40 miles per gallon. Additionally, NADA highlights its numerous amenities ranging from heated seats to keyless entry.

While the Rio SX Five Door offers some substantial room for a subcompact car, some motorists may be looking for a larger vehicle. For them, the Jeep Patriot is at the top of the list. Aside from being an affordable and reliable SUV, experts from NADA say that it is replete with safety features. Throw in the fact that it has four-wheel drive and it's one of the most affordable, versatile SUVs available.

Motorists searching for something in between the subcompact and SUV segments should land on the Hyundai Elantra. The compact car has all the appeal of other vehicles in the segment but it also includes a number of features inside, specifically an impressive audio system, NADA says.

If you're looking for versatility in a dealer, look no further than New Jersey State Auto Auction. With a wide variety of makes and models, there is something for everyone. Additionally, it offers guaranteed credit approval, so everyone can walk away happy with a quality used car.

While cars with a manual transmission still remain a small segment of the market, signs show an increasing number of drivers are opting for stick shifts. Statistics from Edmunds.com show that manual cars accounted for about 6.5 percent of new purchases in the first quarter of this year, which is the highest percentage since 2006.

According to USA Today, there could be a number of reasons why a larger amount of drivers are choosing the manual route. Perhaps most significantly, however, they tend to be a bit cheaper than automatic models. They are usually about $1,000 less and are more readily available in smaller, more affordable cars.

Manual transmissions are also more appealing to drivers hoping to get better performance out of their ride. This is especially true for smaller cars, where being able to shift yourself lets you get the most out of the vehicle, analysts told the publication.

Along with price and power, some credit the increase in manual drivers to the fact that cars have become increasingly user friendly. According to USA Today, modern cars provide a much smoother clutch pedal than in years past. Furthermore, there is a portion of the driving population that simply chooses manual transmissions out habit.

The 6.5 percent figure is significantly higher than in the last few years. In 2010, only 3.9 percent of new cars purchased throughout the whole year were manual. In 2011, that number was about 3.8 percent.

Whether you're looking for an automatic or manual used car in NJ, you'll have luck at New Jersey State Auto Auction. With a wide variety of makes and models at affordable prices, there's certainly something for every driver out there.

There's no denying that buying a car can be stressful. Between financing, choosing a car and trading in your old model, it can certainly be overwhelming. However, it does not have to be that way, and at New Jersey State Auto Auction it isn't. Not only does the dealer offer a wide variety of cars and SUVs, but NJ Auto will streamline the car buying process and take all the anxiety out of purchasing a used vehicle.

Perhaps the greatest advantage offered by NJ Auto is the exceptional variety of cars it has in stock. Specifically, it offers more than 400 pre-owned cars, trucks, SUVs and vans, all of which can be purchased online or in person. Furthermore, all models are sold at or below Kelley Blue Book value, so you know you're getting a good deal when you drive away.

Auto financing can be one of the most stressful aspects of buying a car. After all, how will you be able to get a new vehicle if you're not approved? That's not a problem at NJ Auto, which offers guaranteed credit approval thanks to a partnership with the Credit Acceptance Corporation. So regardless of whether or not you have poor credit history or a sterling reputation, you'll be approved.

Another common issue with buying a new car is being unsure what to do with your previous vehicle. NJ Auto has you covered there as well. You can trade in or sell your car, and thanks to AutoTrader you'll be able to get an appraisal in a matter of seconds and be well on your way to enjoying your new pre-owned vehicle.

While many consumers have been worried about the possibility of paying near-record prices at the pump this summer, it looks like that may not be the case. The price of gasoline futures traded in New York City has fallen significantly in recent weeks, and experts believe the downward trend in gas prices will continue, according to CNN Money.

The futures, which help set prices for gas, dropped from $3.40 to $3.10. The significant fall will likely start to be reflected at the pump sometime in the coming weeks. It's certainly good news given that drivers are nearing one of the busiest driving seasons of the year. Analysts believe the drop in prices is tied largely to the fact that crude oil has decreased by about $5 in price over the course of April.

"We're certainly going to see prices move lower at this point," industry insider Stephen Schork told the news source.

The estimates are good news, especially given that gas prices have already been trending downward. After reaching a nationwide average of $3.95 in early April, the average price of a gallon has dropped to $3.84, and with more reductions expected, motorists may soon feel a little bit of relief.

Although gas is becoming less expensive, that doesn't mean drivers should abandon fuel-efficient practices, such as driving less aggressively and making sure their tires are properly inflated.  Motorists looking for a more fuel-efficient vehicle may want to head to New Jersey State Auto Auction, which has plenty of makes and models at affordable prices.