Americans Plan to Spend Tax Refunds on Vehicles

One-third of Americans who receive a tax refund this year plan to spend at least some of it on car repairs or a replacement vehicle, according to an eBay Motors poll.

The online shopping exchange says one in five of those taxpayers intend to use refund money toward the purchase of a new or used vehicle. The other popular auto-related spending targets are maintenance (49%), repairs (32%) and tires (19%).

The poll, which was conducted by Harris Interactive, also reports that two in five taxpayers plan to declare auto-related deductions on their returns.

Searches for auto parts on eBay Motors during the March-April tax season surged 17% in 2010 and 23% last year, according to the company. It says tires and wheels are the most-sought items.