Thanksgiving often serves as the unofficial beginning of the holiday season and brings with it an influx of cars on the road as drivers pack up to spend time with their families. But while a recent Allstate survey found that 45 percent of Americans plan on taking a road trip of more than two hours this year, many are unprepared for the dangers they may encounter.

The biggest disconnect the study revealed was that although most drivers have experienced at least four instances of a disabled vehicle, 84 percent of respondents said that they didn't think they would run into any snags this year due to mechanical problems or other issues.

Some mechanical accidents and other potential delay-causing problem are unavoidable but performing regular maintainance can drastically reduce your chances of encountering a completely preventable issue, and according to Allstate, the statistics back it up.

The company's study, which polled about 1,000 drivers over the age of 18, found that the 63 percent of respondents who are on top of routine maintenance experienced an average of 3.7 occurrences of a disabled vehicle, while those who didn't take care of their vehicles regularly encountered an average of 5.7 breakdowns. Conscientious drivers were also significantly less likely to have a dead battery, run out of gas or have their car not start.

If you're getting ready for a road trip this holiday season you may want to make sure your car has had all it's routine maintenance performed. New Jersey State Auto Auction provides drivers with a total car care center located in Jersey City that can perform everything from auto repair to regular check ups. 

Due to the struggling economy, most drivers are holding on to their cars longer than ever before. In fact, a recent survey conducted by DriverSide.com found that around 82 percent of people are planning on keeping their rides longer.

While there are a number of ways to extend the life of your car through regular maintenance and upkeep, sometimes you have to know when its reached its limit. According to Jacksonville's WJXT, there are a few tell-tale signs that it may be time to get behind the wheel of a new or used car.

Among the most distressing signs your ride may be on its last legs is that it's burning through oil. There are a few easy ways to tell if you have this problem but if you notice that your car is using up a lot of oil (about a quarter a week) and there's no puddle underneath it in your driveway or garage you have a problem.

"The oil is just burning it up because the engine is tired and it's not tight anymore," industry expert Mark Larsen told the news channel. "It could be the rings or the valve seals could be so hard that they just can't hold the oil anymore. It tends to be expensive [to fix]."

Any significant transmission problems may mean it's time to get a different car as well. According to the news source, a typical transmission replacement can cost you anywhere from $2,500 to $3,000, so if you notice your car slipping when it shifts gears it might mean you need a new ride.

New Jersey State Auto Auction has a wide selection of cars available at affordable prices to anybody looking to replace their worn out model.

Used cars often offer drivers with a great number of benefits, not the least of which is their affordability and relative reliability. However, both can be seriously compromised if you don't know what to do when it comes to regular maintenance. Edmunds.com recently offered a few tips on what you should regularly check out to ensure that your older car stays on the road as long as possible.

Experts say that the most crucial thing to do prioritize each maintenance issue, with all safety-related problems at the top. You should not be afraid to spend money on areas such as tires, brakes and steering, all of which could seriously jeopardize your safety if they do not receive regular upkeep and inspection.

Replacing hoses can also be a big issue in older cars, and according to website you'll likely have to switch in new ones depending on how long you've had your car. The key here is to watch out for warning signs of leaks. For instance, the faint smell of gasoline can be indicative of a leaking fuel line while squealing suggests a faulty fan or accessory belt. While this area is a little bit lower priority than safety-related issues, it still should be a concern.

Recent statistics suggest that drivers may be placing extra emphasis on keeping their cars on the road longer. Rebecca Lindland, the director of strategic review at IHS Automotive, spoke with Bloomberg Radio and pointed out that the average age of a car on the road today is an impressive 10.7 years and has covered 130,000 miles.

New Jersey State Auto Auction offers motorists with a full service auto center in its Jersey City location, which provides discounted auto repair and maintenance.

With gas prices staying at steadily-high prices, consumers are beginning to shift their preferences as a result. A recent study commissioned by Ford found that a growing number of drivers rank fuel efficiency as the primary deciding factor when it comes to buying a new or used car.

The nationwide research found that the criteria has experienced a significant jump in the last decade. Specifically, for people buying smaller cars like the Ford Fiesta, a vehicle's gas mileage came in as the top consideration for 2011 – a marked jump from the fourth place it occupied in 2001. Fuel efficiency is even one of the most important considerations for people buying SUVs, currently ranking in fifth, up from 16th.

The findings are indicative of the growing number of manufactures who are making a point to focus on offering especially fuel-efficient cars. Ford in particular has been active, even creating an all-electric version of its popular Ford Focus, and the company feels as though the study is validation of its more eco-friendly push over the last few years.

"Drivers want fuel economy choices – not a one-size-fits-all solution – and Ford is leading the way," said Mark Fields, Ford's president of The Americas. "Customers are telling us clean and green vehicles matter because they are good for people's wallets and good for our planet."

Whether you're looking for a fuel-efficient small car or a truck with excellent gas mileage, New Jersey State Auto Auction has you covered. All the company's cars are CARFAX certified, meaning you know you're getting a reliable used car with many of them being below Kelley Blue Book value.

The week in auto news is certainly music to the ears of anybody who drives Range Rovers as well as those who's an active breast cancer research advocate. However, if you're afraid of germs you may not be so happy.

• Being recognized by Motor Trend magazine is often seen as a significant milestone for most manufacturers, which is good news for Land Rover. The 2012 Range Rover Evoque earned the distinction of being named the 2012 SUV of the Year this week by the publication.

If you look at the specifics of the new car, its not hard to see why it was chosen. The Evoque is the smallest, lightest and most fuel-efficient Range Rover ever produced by the company while still maintaining the luxury and class the popular SUVs have become known for.

"It is a significant achievement for the Range Rover Evoque to be deemed the best new SUV on the market by Motor Trend, one of the pre-eminent brands in automotive publishing," said Andy Goss, president of Jaguar Land Rover North America.

Motor Trend reaches its rankings through rigorous performance testing under certain conditions to simulate the real-world driving experience.

• In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, numerous communities across the country have been holding events and fundraisers, and that includes the automotive community. Symbolic Motors in San Diego, California, recently unveiled a Bentley Continental GT Coupe – painted entirely in pink. A portion of the proceeds from the $250,000 sale will go to support Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

"While this car is stunning, it is going to save lives with the money that is raised and there is nothing more beautiful than that," said Laura Farmer Sherman, a breast cancer survivor and executive director of the organization.

• Next time you fill up your car you might want to make extra sure you wash your hands as soon as possible. Results of a new study show that the gas pump handle is the dirtiest thing that Americans encounter on their way to and from the office, Retuers reports.

The research was conducted by Kimberly-Clark Professional, which discovered that other top offenders were public mailbox handles, parking meters and ATM buttons. But it was gas pumps that took the cake.

"It comes down to the fact that nobody cleans the things that you're going to touch on a daily basis," program leader Dr. Kelly Arehart told the news agency. 

For years, used cars had unfairly been given a bad reputation. The prevailing wisdom was that if you were purchasing a previously owned vehicle you were taking a risk that the car would break down more easily and you'd be left with no way to get around. However, times have changed and now used cars are not only an increasingly popular option, they are reliable as well, CBS affiliate WRAL reports.

Perhaps the biggest reason for the burgeoning confidence in used cars is the ample number of resources that consumers have available to them. Before stopping by dealers such as New Jersey State Auto Auction, prospective buyers can do extensive research into which car they're thinking about purchasing and end up saving a considerable amount of money on a ride that can last them a long time.

"It can cost as much as 45 percent less than the same car was when new, yet still have most or all the features you're looking for and still have years of life left in it," Consumer Reports' Jon Linkov told the news channel.

Still, while there may be many resources available to consumers, if they are not used correctly it can all be for naught. A car's history can be a significant indicator of how it will perform in the future so would-be buyers should check out if it's had any repairs or water damage in its past.

Luckily, New Jersey State Auto makes it easy for buyers to be confident they are buying a car that has a clean record. All cars sold by the company have been checked by CARFAX to ensure they are reliable.