No credit history, need a co-signer to get a car, no parents, and car is about to die
I am 26 years old. I have never had a credit card, or anything, for that matter, to establish any sort of credit history. I never had anyone to tell me these things would be a huge deal one day, when I need to buy a car and can't get even a used car without a co-signer because I have no credit history and the dealership (or the bank they deal with) won't let me do it without someone else who already has established credit to cosign for me. I have a great job and I have money! It doesn't make any sense to me. My car is about to die, as in it is probably going to die within the next month. It is VERY old and the only reason it has lasted me this long is because I took very good care of it. My dad gave it to me when I was 16, so 10 years it lasted.
Who do I get to cosign for me? I don't have family. Is cosigning a huge, huge deal when it comes to things like this? I imagine so, because technically if I didn't make my payments the cosigner would be responsible or it goes on their credit, correct?
How crappy. I don't know what to do. Help!!