Depending of the lender, you may need to be employed for anywhere from 3 months to 2 years before applying for a car loan. However, most lenders will be satisfied to see that you've steadily held down a job for at least 6 months. You may be able to get a car loan without a job as long as you can show some sort of savings, provide proof of any non-traditional income you may be getting (government payments, annuities, returns on investments) and possibly make a large down payment on your car.