The end of the year is widely considered to be one of the best times to purchase new and used cars, and as it turns out, this year it is also an ideal period to trade in your car. Experts say that used cars have been retaining their value over the last six months so if you've been waiting for the best moment to sell, it might be now, according to NBC affiliate KARE.

Over the last four years or so, few people have been buying new cars. As a result, this has lowered the number of used cars on many lots so most dealers are looking to buy, and some say they have no set limit on how many vehicles they want to purchase.

"We can't get enough trade-ins. We, like most other dealers in the cities will make really good offers just to buy used cars outright. We need them to sell them," industry insider Doug Sprinthall told the news channel.

New Jersey State Auto Auction is a great place to go if you're considering taking advantage of the excellent trade-in market. Due to its status as an authorized Autotrader.com Trade In Marketplace Dealership, customers can quickly get a free appraisal.

Although experts say that most cars that are between one and two years old can get the close to their original value, there are a number of models that are especially high in demand. According to MSN Autos, the 2009 Ford Fusion, 2008 Honda CR-V and 2008 Hyundai Elantra are all popular choices.