You probably know your credit score, then, and the chances of being approved. However, if $22K a year is your gross salary you may have difficulty getting approved at a reasonable rate and terms for an $18K car. You may get approved for a long term loan, like 60-72 months, but I think those are a very bad idea and believe no one should buy a car that'll take more then three years to pay off.

So, you may get approved, and you can always go to your bank or credit union and ask (don't let the dealer arrange the loan unless you're sure of the terms and approval), and you'll know where you stand.

Also, since you're still in school and not earning a great deal I'd hold off on taking on any debt if at all possible. It's likely in the next few years you'll be finishing school, looking for a new career, deciding where you may want to move, if you want to further your education, etc., and you do not want car payments making it difficult to achieve what you want.

Before considering taking out a car loan, pay off those credit cards completely. If you can't afford to pay off the entire balance each month, you don't have room in your budget for the added cost of a car. The best practice before taking out a loan is to do a trial run. Estimate what the car will cost you each month, including loan payment, insurance, gasoline, repairs/maintenance, etc. and start putting that amount in savings each month. This builds up a down payment and lets you know if you can actually afford it before you're legally obligated.

AND THE QUESTION IS ??..........................