The rebate rate on a brand-specific rebate card is the percentage rate that you can earn rewards using the card. A General Motors rebate card would require you to use your rebate to buy a GM vehicle. A Sony rebate card would require you to use your rebate to buy goods made by Sony. A rebate card may credit you $1 towards the purchase of specific brands of goods for every $100 in new purchases you make with your card. This is a rebate rate of 1%. Most cards allow a yearly maximum to the amount of credit they will rebate you.