
If you’ve lost your job and you’re collecting unemployment, you may still be able to finance a car, but it will be harder to get approved for a loan. Unemployment isn’t a long-term, stable income source, which lenders want to see. They’ll also look at your credit history and score and income sources when you apply for the loan.
Can I get a car loan while on unemployment benefits?
Whether a person receiving unemployment benefits qualifies for a car loan will depend on his current financial status and the policies of the finance company to which he's applying. If the applicant has a strong credit history and abundant savings, the company may be willing to issue a loan.
Do auto dealerships take unemployment checks as income?
Credit unions, banks, and indirect lenders that work with finance departments in dealerships aren’t going to accept unemployment checks as income. What About a Cosigner or Co-Borrower?
Can I get financing with unemployment income?
However, if financing a vehicle from a BHPH dealer doesn’t feel right to you, or you don’t qualify for any in-house financing options, you have another option: paying cash. If you have the cash and you can’t get financing with your unemployment income, you can always purchase a car from a regular dealership, BHPH dealer, or private seller.
Can you get a car loan if you don't have a job?
Even if you have nontraditional sources of income and healthy credit, you may still have a tough time getting approved for a car loan if you don’t have a job. In that case, a co-signer with stable income could help improve your approval odds.

How Do Lenders View Unemployment Benefits?
Unemployment benefits are a lifeline for unemployed people until they find another job or other long-term, consistent income source. But they aren’t likely to help you qualify for a car loan. Lenders typically require proof of income that is stable, consistent, and will cover the course of the loan.
Your Credit Score Matters
Your credit score and credit history make a big difference when you apply for auto financing while you’re employed. They can make an even bigger difference when you’re applying for auto financing when you’re unemployed.
How To Increase Your Loan Approval Chances
There are many strategies you can use to increase your chances of being approved for an auto loan.
What happens when you get preapproved for a loan?
When you get preapproved, you’ll get an idea of what your interest rate and loan terms will be. You should know that a lender may pull your credit reports as part of the preapproval process, which could generate a hard inquiry into your credit file.
How to calculate DTI?
To calculate your DTI, add up all of your monthly debt payments and then divide by your gross monthly income. For example, if you have $500 in monthly debt obligations and $2,000 of monthly income, your DTI is 25%. To keep yourself from feeling financially strapped, it’s a good idea to aim for a DTI below 40%.
How much interest do you pay on a 20% down payment?
You’d pay a total of $2,400 in interest over the life of the loan. But if you made a 20% down payment ($3,000), you’d only pay $1,920 in interest. That’s a savings of $480. If you’re planning to buy a car, a larger down payment could definitely save you money. However, big down payments aren’t always the best move.
What are some examples of income?
Here are a few examples of other sources of income some people have: 1 Social Security 2 Pension 3 Alimony 4 Investment dividends 5 Rental property
Can I get a car loan if I am unemployed?
Some lenders may approve car loans for unemployed borrowers — especially if they have other sources of income. Before you shop, make sure to check your credit scores and look for any issues that may need to be addressed.
Can I get a car loan if I don't have a job?
Even if you have nontraditional sources of income and healthy credit, you may still have a tough time getting approved for a car loan if you don’t have a job. In that case, a co-signer with stable income could help improve your approval odds.
Can I get a car loan if I'm not working?
The answers to these questions depend on your situation. If you’re not working, you may want to avoid taking on a car loan, which could add more financial stress to your life. But in some cases you may be able to qualify for a loan even if you’re unemployed.
Unemployment Benefits
Unemployment benefits are considered a stopgap source of income that a person can use to pay basic expenses until he finds a new job. The exact length of time a person can receive unemployment and how much he can receive depends on a number of factors, including how much he made in his previous job and current state and federal laws.
Car Loans
Car loans are loans issued by finance companies to people seeking to purchase cars. Under a typically car loan contract, the finance company purchases a vehicle for an individual, and the individual pays back the company over a period of time. If the individual fails to pay back the loan, the finance company may seize the car as collateral.
Eligibility
When considering whether to loan money to an individual and, if so, at what rate to loan it, a finance company will typically consider a number of factors. Foremost among these is the individual's credit history in the form of his credit report, his current income, and his assets.
Finance Company Policies
Whether a person receiving unemployment benefits qualifies for a car loan will depend on his current financial status and the policies of the finance company to which he's applying. If the applicant has a strong credit history and abundant savings, the company may be willing to issue a loan.
How long do you have to have a down payment to get a car loan?
Generally, car lenders require borrowers to have held their current job for around six months to a year, minimum.
Do BHPH dealerships check credit?
Since they don't have to rely on a third-party lender to approve the auto loan, they probably won’t check your credit . Some BHPH dealerships offer rent to own vehicles, where the dealer holds onto the car’s title until you make the last payment.
Can you use unemployment for a car loan?
Cash is king when it comes to most purchases, but your employment history matters in the world of auto financing, too. Unemployment checks, once cashed, can pretty much be used for anything you’d like, including a down payment on a car loan.
Can you garnish your income for a car loan?
Auto lenders also don’t accept income sources that can’t be garnished or proven, such as tipped income that hasn’t been reported. One of the biggest things car lenders look for is proof of your ability to repay that loan, not just your ability to provide a lump sum down payment.
How to get a car loan for an unemployed person?
Here are four ways in which you can possibly find car loans for unemployed individuals. 1. Compile Your Other Sources of Income. If you have income from other sources than a job, that could help you snag a car loan. These sources could include:
How much liability insurance do you need in California?
For example, in California, you’ll need to have at least $15,000 per person for bodily injury liability coverage, a $5,000 minimum for property damage liability coverage and $30,000 for injury or death of more than one person.
What are the benefits of Veterans Affairs?
Veterans affairs benefits. Investment dividends. Additionally, some lenders might accept an upcoming inheritance, a pending employment offer or independent contractor agreement or the pending sale of investment property, real estate or securities.
Do you have to pay back a loan in a shorter time?
For instance, the lender may want you to pay back your entire loan in a shorter amount of time, require you to set up automatic payments, give you a lower loan amount than you need or charge a higher interest rate and origination fees.
Is it better to get a car loan with a good credit score?
If you have a good credit score, you’ll have a much better chance of getting a car loan. If your score is excellent, your interest rate may be low as well.
Does closing down credit cards affect your credit score?
Closing down credit cards could cause your credit score to drop ( the longer your credit history is, the better). Hard inquiries into your credit — which occur when you apply for some types of loans and cards — could also temporarily decrease your score. 4. Save up Cash.
Can you raise your deductible on a car loan?
By raising your deductible, you can get a lower-priced policy. Your lender may encourage or require you to obtain GAP insurance, which will cover the cost of the difference between the value of the vehicle and the amount still owed on the loan in the event of an accident where the car is totaled.
Cost Of Borrowing A Loan Without Employment Verification
If you are currently unemployed and are looking to apply for a loan that does not require employment verification, you should be aware of the risks of doing so.
Is Age A Factor
Yes, age will inevitably come into it, although its not necessarily a deciding factor. If youre 22 years old and unemployed, you are likely to be seen as a higher risk than someone whos 42 and unemployed because youre unlikely to be able to show a stable employment history and a stable financial position.
What Impact Does A Credit Score Have
Reviewing your credit history allows a lender to understand how youâve managed credit in the past. If youâre unemployed with a good credit history, Zuto is more likely to be able to help you get a car loan.
Consider Your Financial Situation Before You Pull The Trigger
The current situation is complicated, and while you may be financially able to purchase a new car now, things can change quickly. If you work in an industry that may be impacted by the coronavirus crisis, it may be best to hold off on major purchases until things go back to normal.
Can I Get Car Finance With No Employment History
It is possible to get a car loan without an employment history, but it may take a little longer.
Car Finance For Unemployed And Bad Credit
Having bad credits isnt to blame as your intentional fault. Though you need to look and work over the reasons that have got your credits desperately down. To obtain approved car loans for unemployed with bad credit history you need to locate the loan lenders who lend funds to individuals with bad credit and unemployed.
Are You Struggling Financially
If you’re struggling financially and would like to speak to someone for free financial advice, information and assistance you can call the Financial Counsellors hotline on 1800 007 007 . If you are suffering financial problems related to the coronavirus pandemic you may be eligible for additional support.

Unemployment Checks and Income
- If you’ve lost your job involuntarily, unemployment checks can be a saving grace for everyday expenses. But if you need financing for a vehicle, it may not be in the cards right now. Lenders need proof of income, and for the income to be consistent over the entire loan term. Since unem…
What About A Cosigner Or co-borrower?
- Cosigners and co-borrowers can help bad credit borrowersget approved for an auto loan, as they give lenders additional security that the loan will be paid. They can also help those with bad credit get approved – and possibly get lower interest rates or better loan terms. But if your income isn’t steady or consistent, you won’t get approved. Even if you find someone that’s willing to cosign, t…
Other Finance Options
- You may have heard of dealerships that don’t check your credit score. These dealers, called buy here pay here (BHPH) lots, are more concerned with your ability to pay for the monthly loan installments. BHPH lots have in-house financing, which means that the dealership is also the lender. They typically require a large down payment, sometimes asking for 20% or more of a car’…
Looking For A Dealership?
- If you need a dealership that can work with you, we want to help. Here at Auto Credit Express, we connect bad credit borrowers with dealers that work with subprime lenders. Subprime lenders are bad credit lenders that consider more than your credit score for approval, and work with borrowers with unique credit situations. To put us to work finding a dealership near you, simply f…
Do You Have Other Sources of Income?
How Good Is Your Credit?
- Your credit scores play an important role in getting approved for a loan. Healthy credit scores show lenders that you have a habit of handling your debt obligations carefully. Strong credit scores — as well as sources of income not tied to employment — could help you find financing for your car purchase while you’re unemployed. If you have healthy ...
Do You Have A co-signer?
- Even if you have nontraditional sources of income and healthy credit, you may still have a tough time getting approved for a car loan if you don’t have a job. In that case, a co-signer with stable income could help improve your approval odds. Before you ask someone to be a co-signer on your car loan, you’ll want to weigh the pros and cons. Your co-signer will be equally responsible for th…
Do You Have Other Debts?
- One of the key factors affecting your ability to qualify for a loan is your debt-to-income ratio. To calculate your DTI, add up all of your monthly debt payments and then divide by your gross monthly income. For example, if you have $500 in monthly debt obligations and $2,000 of monthly income, your DTI is 25%. $500 (total debt obligations) / $2,000 monthly income = 25% To keep y…
Do You Have A Sizable Down Payment?
- A down payment reduces the total amount you can finance, and a large down payment can save you money on your loan. For instance, let’s say you qualify for a fixed 6% interest rate on a five-year loan for a $15,000 car purchase. You’d pay a total of $2,400 in interest over the life of the loan. But if you made a 20% down payment ($3,000), you’d only pay $1,920 in interest. That’s a s…