1. A computer implemented method for determining a vehicle type of a vehicle detected in an image, comprising the steps of: receiving an image comprising a detected vehicle; projecting a plurality of vehicle models comprising salient feature locations on the detected vehicle in the image, wherein each vehicle model is associated with a vehicle type; comparing a first set of features derived from each of the salient feature locations of the vehicle models to a second set of features derived from corresponding salient feature locations of the detected vehicle to form a plurality of positive match scores (p-scores) and a plurality of negative match scores (n-scores); and classifying the detected vehicle as one of the plurality of vehicle models by: forming a feature vector of n-scores and p-scores; training a set of specific vehicle-type (SVM) classifiers; comparing the detected vehicle to each of the trained classifiers; and associating the detected vehicle with a selected trained classifier based on a confidence value produced by the selected trained classifier.