So you want to buy a car, but you don't have the funds to do it alone.Yep, you've got to get a loan.You may know exactly the car you want, or at least an idea of the make and model. But before you walk into a dealership, you should first take a small detour to a financial institution, where together you can decide how much of a monthly loan payment you can afford and then get pre-approved.Tempted to skip this step and use whatever kind of financing is available at the dealership? That's certainly an option, but having your financials figured out before making the big purchase means you can walk into the dealership and hammer away at the price. When you choose to finance with them, the salespeople know they can capitalize on your emotion and may end up talking you out of your target price range. Getting a new car is an exciting time, says Jeff Meyer of New Horizons Credit Union. Having a loan in place before walking in to the dealership means that you keep negotiations simple and straightforward and encourages you to stay within your budget.Not only will you have some serious bargaining power, but you'll save some time, too, Meyer adds. You can spend your whole afternoon getting all the loan particulars figured out at the dealership. But with a pre-approved loan, all you have to do is sign and drive.So, where will you go to get your loan?If your first thought is to just go to the bank you normally do business with, take a moment to explore your options, even if your bank has been advertising crazy-low interest rates for auto loans.Typically, the rates you hear from banks on radio or TV commercials are for people who fall into the category at the very top of the credit tier, and very few people qualify for these rates, advises Meyer.Curious where you fall? Check out your credit score. Most people fall into the middle category, which, depending on the lender, can be known as C Tier, Silver Tier or Tier 3. According to edmunds.com, people in this tier generally have fewer than five years of credit history, carry high balances on credit cards, have changed jobs or moved once or twice and have been slow to pay their credit card bills, student loan payments and/or auto loan payments.So, if you fall into a tier that's not at the top, chances are you're not going to get that advertised interest rate. Be prepared when you walk into a leading bank to find that you actually qualify for their lower-tier rate, which could be something closer 14.5 percent. But, at credit unions like New Horizons, second and third tier rates are more in the 8 percent range, which could mean a difference of several hundred dollars a year, depending on the loan amount and duration.Meyer says that when you go with a national financial institution's lower tier rates, you're still getting the money, but you're overpaying to get it. Why would you want to overpay a big bank to get the same amount you could get from a credit union? he asks.Come by New Horizons Credit Union and see how they can help you get the loan you need at a price that will set you up for success.