Getting a Car at 18.

Well; truth be told that they are right! At your age and since you've only worked for a short time, and basically lack of credit, and no savings or down payment; you are a risk. If you work at the same place for a bit longer, and build up your credit a bit more then you could in about a year or two you might be able to get a loan.

You might try a Buy-Here Pay-Here car lot. These places don't go through banks to finance; they finance on their own. Meaning they can set their own prices and charge as much monthly payment as they want, and charge outrageous monthly payments. Most of these places don't offer warranties. Just make sure they answer to all 3 credit agencies to help build your credit, and if they do....Don't be late on the payments.

Don't borrow money to get the car and whatever you do don't lease. Leasing is the most expensive way to operate a vehicle per Consumer Reports, several consumer agencies and any calculator you care to operate. You're much better off saving up to buy a decent used car. I don't know how much money your current car is worth, but the wise thing to do is to sell it yourself (you get much more than just a trade in) and buy a cheap, used car.

You can buy an ugly car that will get you around for about $1000. It's not that hard to scrape up that much money (a month or so easily). Drive the junker for 6 mos while you scrape up another couple thousand. The junker won't lose much if any value (you may be able to sell it for more than you paid for it). You can then trade it in if you want and buy a $4-5k car that's a quality car and it's paid for.

Basically you're making car payments, but you're making them to yourself instead of the bank. Stick the payments in a savings account or money market for a couple of months. When you're ready to buy your car, you take out the money and pocket the interest or put the interest toward the price of the car.

Whatever you do, you don't want a car payment and you don't want to lease. Getting a co-signer is never a wise idea. I've never heard of anyone who did it who didn't regret it.

The $1000 junker is definitely not a long term option and no one wants to drive one for the rest of their life. Think of it as a temporary means of just getting around while you save up for a longer term solution. You're only going to have it for a few months while you save up the $4-5k (or whatever) to buy the nicer used car that's a more permanent solution.