![Man in hat smiling at phone with blue brick background](https://www.bankrate.com/2022/05/27142658/Reasons-to-arrange-auto-financing-before-visiting-a-dealership.jpeg?auto=webp&fit=crop&width=230&height=150)
Should I get an auto loan before going to the dealership?
Explore your options and get the best rates before you enter the dealership.
The better you understand how loans work and how lenders think, the better equipped you are to save on your loan.
— Pippin Wilbers
About the author
Pippin Wilbers is a Bankrate editor. He joined the personal loans team in 2024, though he's also contributed work on the auto loans, credit cards, student loans and small business loan verticals. Pippin is passionate about demystifying complex topics, such as car financing or finding the best personal loan, and helping borrowers stay up-to-date in a changing and challenging borrower environment.
Pippin stays on top of industry news sources, such as TransUnion and Experian. Working with reporters Hanneh Bareham and Denny Ceizyk, he analyzes industry data and trends and asks: "What does this mean for borrowers?"
Pippin lives in Denver. Before joining Bankrate, he brought vital news to his community as a small-town newspaper reporter. In his spare time, he enjoys foraging for mushrooms, reading, and dabbling in amateur entomology.
The better you understand how loans work and how lenders think, the better equipped you are to save on your loan.
— Pippin Wilbers
Explore your options and get the best rates before you enter the dealership.
Explore your options and get the best rates before you enter the dealership.
Don’t let scammers drive off with your online car buying dreams.
Don’t let scammers drive off with your online car buying dreams.
We have nine car buying apps to help you compare, find and buy cars.
We have nine car buying apps to help you compare, find and buy cars.
There’s more to auto loans than just walking into the dealership’s financing office.
There are two main ways to sell your car online. Find out which is best for you.