Always get pre-approved for a loan before you shop. Even if you end up using dealer financing, it’s important to know how much you can borrow and what the rates will be. That makes you a tougher negotiator. You’ll especially need to know this information in order to choose between a rebate and low-interest financing. There are online calculators that will help you decide between a rebate and low-interest financing (do a web search), but generally, the rebate is the best option.