If you're thinking about buying a used car in NJ, there are a few steps you should take before you head to the dealership. You should consider everything from what type of car you need to how much money you are willing and able to spend on a purchase.

First, it is important to have a good idea of your financial standing. The Federal Trade Commission grants consumers one free report each year from AnnualCreditReport.com. This does not supply you with your exact credit score, but it gives you the chance to see what the dealer will see when you apply for a loan. Even if your credit is less than perfect, you'll be accepted at New Jersey State Auto Auction thanks to a partnership with the Credit Acceptance Corporation.

When you have narrowed down your options to a few cars, you should take them for test drives. This gives you a chance to feel how each vehicle handles and make sure all of the features inside the car are in working order. Be sure to test the windows, windshield wipers, lights, dashboard buttons and other items to ensure they work properly. It is also a good idea to drive the car on the highway as well as in the city to ensure it drives well in both situations.

Before you sign off on your car, get a vehicle history report and have an independent mechanic take a look at the vehicle to ensure there is no major prior damage. If there is, you may encounter problems down the road that can be costly. All the vehicles at NJ Auto are CARFAX certified, so drivers know they'll be getting behind the wheel of safe, reliable rides.

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.