The Thanksgiving holiday is one of the busiest travel days of the year. In fact, AAA estimates that about 38.2 million Americans will be making the trip to their destination by car this year. With the increased amount of people on the road, now is an excellent time to highlight the importance of maintenance to ensure that motorists get to their destinations easily and safely, and CBS affiliate WIBW reports there are some things all drivers should consider.

Whether it's before taking off for Thanksgiving or simply for regular upkeep, car owners should check their tires fairly often. Most importantly, keeping the tire pressure at the right level will both provide traction and reduce the chances of a blowout. Additionally, you should make sure that the spare tire is in good working order should the need ever arise to use it.

There's nothing worse than being stranded with a dead battery. Though it's a common problem, it can often sneak up on unsuspecting drivers. According to the news channel, you should make sure the terminals are both secured and free of corrosion and if not, it should be cleaned or replaced.

As a final maintenance step, you should make sure all the fluids are at the right levels. Regardless of whether or not you're traveling 10 minutes or five hours to reach your destination, things like oil and radiator coolant are crucial.

Although there is a long list of auto maintenance you can take care of yourself before you travel this holiday season, sometimes you need the help of a professional. New Jersey State Auto Auction provides motorists with an easy way to get their car looked at with its Total Car Care center. Located in Jersey City, the center is open to the public and will make sure your vehicle is running smoothly.  

It's widely known that hybrid cars can help drivers save money at the pump, but the fuel-efficient vehicles may also help prevent them from getting in an accident. A recent study from the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) found that drivers of hybrid cars are 25 percent less likely to be injured in an accident than other motorists on the road, The Detroit News reports.

There are a number of factors going into how the researchers arrived at the figures. Specifically, scientists say that it may depend largely on the thought process of a hybrid driver. Most people behind the wheel of a hybrid car are trying to get the most mileage possible and tend to drive more carefully.

Driving habits may have something to do with it, but the construction hybrid cars were also a factor. According to the newspaper, most hybrid models are heavier than their normal counterparts. For example, a hybrid Accord weighs about 480 pounds less than a traditional Accord.

"Weight is a big factor," said Matt Moore, the HLDI vice president and author of the report. "This extra mass gives them an advantage in crashes that their conventional twins don't have."

Though the study found hybrid drivers are less likely to be injured, it also found that they are 20 percent more likely to be involved in a crash with a pedestrian due to the vehicles' quiet engines.

In addition to driving more carefully, keeping your car properly maintained is another excellent way to make sure that you are safe behind the wheel. New Jersey State Auto Auction offers consumers with a Total Car Care Center so they can make sure their vehicle is in perfect working condition. 

To many consumers, buying a car can be a stressful enterprise. It's a big commitment and sometimes people might feel overwhelmed by the amount of options in front of them. A recent survey by CarMax found that women have an especially negative view of buying cars. Although the study showed that many found the process to be a hassle, many of their issues could have been resolved had they gone to New Jersey State Auto Auction.

One of the things that annoyed women the most was that they felt they did not get a fair trade-in value for their car. In fact, 15 percent of respondents said they believe they could have gotten more, and at New Jersey Auto they like would have walked away happier. The business is an AutoTrader.com Trade In Marketplace dealership and its website lets you get an appraisal in a matter of seconds.

"As an authorized Autotrader Trade In Marketplace Dealership, we are equipped to provide an instant quote to Trade or Purchase a customer's used car, with payment right on the spot," said Lazlo Ember, the internet marketing director at the company.

The biggest complaint of all, however, was the efficiency of the process. Specifically, 26 percent of women said that they did not have a fast and easy experience the last time they bought a car, and New Jersey State Auto Auction can solve that problem as well.

Along with a wide variety of makes and models at affordable prices, those who go to New Jersey Auto can rest easy because each vehicle is Carfax certified, so you know that you are getting a reliable ride.  

Most drivers on the road today are looking to get the best mileage they can, and with gas as expensive as it is, it's hard to blame them. As such, it's easy to see why fuel efficient cars dominated the week in auto news.

• Jay Leno is famous for a lot of things – his early career as a stand up comedian, his venerable talk show and his pronounced chin have all made him an instantly recognizable part of Hollywood, but his large collection of cars has also earned him a great deal of followers.

It should come as no surprise that Leno was one of the first people to buy the new electric Chevrolet Volt, and according to The New York Times' Wheels blog, his experience with the car might lead other consumers to buy it as well. He got the car on December 12, 2010 and drove it around 11,000 miles without ever having to fill it up with gas. Most impressive? Although he has a long list of cars to choose from, he drives the Volt almost every day.

"It's my daily driver," Leno told the Times. "It really is. I commute in it to work every day. My commute, and all my other daily running around, totals less than 35 miles."

• The Chevy Volt is certainly not the only eco-friendly car on the road right now, and it was Honda that actually earned recognition for its fuel-efficient models. The Honda Civic Natural Gas was given the Green Car of the Year at the recent L.A. Auto Show, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The innovative car is the cleanest running vehicle by Environmental Protection Agency standards and gets an impressive 48 miles per gallon. The unique Civic is currently the only mass-produced car that runs on natural gas.

"There is no other vehicle like the Civic Natural Gas on American highways, and this recognition has been a long time coming for Honda," Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of the Green Car Journal, told the L.A. Times.

• Smaller cars like the Volt and the Civic are not the only models that are looking toward better gas mileage – SUVs are getting on board as well. Honda unveiled its retooled CR-V at the L.A. Auto Show. In addition to its new interior and more powerful engine, the car will get 1 to 4 more miles per gallon than in previous models, according to USA Today.
 

One of the most difficult parts of the holidays is trying to come up with the perfect gift for someone who seemingly has everything. Though it may seem like a tall order, it may not be that hard to shop for the auto enthusiasts out there, especially as more and more people look to keep their cars on the road as long as possible.

According to AutoMD.com there are a few gifts that are well-suited for those looking to make sure that their car can reach 150,000 miles and beyond. One of the smallest, but perhaps most useful, tools in keeping your car running is a tire gauge. If tires are properly inflated, they are less likely to be damaged by rough driving conditions. Not to mention they can also go a long way in keeping your fuel efficiency up.

In a similar vein, you may want to buy the budding mechanic in your life an air compressor to assist them in their tire maintenance. Instead of having to take their car to the local gas station to inflate their tires, this gift will give them the opportunity to do so in the comfort of their own driveway.

A maintenance manual can come in handy for drivers looking to make their car last but sometimes the all-important guide can get lost in the shuffle, which could result in a number of unnecessary trips to the mechanic. If you buy someone the right manual for their car as a gift, the money they save will be thanks enough.

Along with having the right tools to ensure their cars run as long as possible drivers will want to make sure their vehicle gets regular maintenance performed. New Jersey State Auto Auction offers consumers with a total car care center at its Jersey City location so everyone can get the most out of their ride.