ACH (Automated Clearing House) – an electronic transfer of funds to make payments.

Amortization and Re-amortization – refers to the process of paying off a loan (debt) with regular payments over time. Re-Amortization is a change in the regular payment amount, such as paying more toward the principal loan balance.

Amount Financed – this is the total amount of the money borrowed on the loan.

Annual Percentage Rate (APR) – this is the cost you pay each year to borrow money. The number includes fees and is expressed as a percentage.

Applicant/Co-Applicant – this is the person who is applying for financing with a formal application. A co-applicant is a second person who is applying for the same financing on the same formal application.

Borrower / Co-Borrower – a person or persons who are taking out a loan from a lender with the agreement of paying back the money borrowed, typically with interest.

Change of Ownership – Auto Loan – when ownership of a vehicle moves from one person to another.

Collateral – an asset a lender accepts as security for a loan.

Consumer Reporting Bureau (or Agency) – an agency which collects personal information about consumers and uses that information to inform lending institutions about a person’s creditworthiness.

Cosigner – someone who takes full responsibility for paying back a loan in the event the primary borrower fails to repay.

Credit Report – a compilation of someone’s credit history. The report shows all known debt a person owes and their timeliness in repayment.

Credit Score – a numerical range between 300 and 850 that is based primarily on a credit report. The higher a person’s credit score is, the higher their chances are of qualifying for a loan.

Current Loan Balance – the unpaid principal and interest of a loan.

Debt – money a person owes to another person, institution or organization.

Debt to Income Ratio (DTI) – a personal finance measure comparing monthly debt payments to the income a person earns.

Department of Motor Vehicles – a government agency run by the state that administers vehicle registration and driver licensing.

Depreciation – refers to the rate at which your vehicle loses its value over time.

Depreciation Protection – insurance that protects your vehicle’s value in the event it is totaled in an accident or stolen.

Documentation Fee – fees charged by some companies to process your paperwork. Our Lending Partners do not charge documentation fees.

Down Payment – money paid up front toward the purchase of an asset such as a car or a home. Down payments are not part of the Amount Financed.

Due Date – for loans or debt this is the date of the month your payment needs to be paid to avoid more interest charges or late fees.

FICO Score – similar to a credit score, but FICO is used by lenders to predict the likelihood that someone will pay back debt.

Finance Charge – either a flat fee or a percentage of the amount borrowed which is paid to the lender. It is the cost of borrowing money.

Finance Rate – it is the interest rate you can get financing from a lender for a loan. Rates can be fixed or variable.

Fixed Rate Loan – an interest rate that does not change. The rate of interest will apply to the entire term of the loan.

Guaranteed Asset Protection (GAP) – this is supplemental insurance coverage that would help you pay off your auto loan in the event your car is totaled or stolen. Our Lending Partners provide an opportunity to purchase Guaranteed Asset Protection (GAP) when re-financing an automobile.

Hard Inquiry/Hard Pull/Hard Credit Inquiry – this occurs when you apply for a new line of credit. A hard inquiry will typically impact your credit score.

Interest Rate – is the price you pay to borrow money.

Kelly Blue Book Value – is a recognized standard to get your vehicle’s current worth.

Late Fee – a charge that is imposed for being late on a loan payment.

Lease Buyout – pays off the remaining balance of your lease agreement for a predetermined amount of money.

Lien – a legal claim against a property that is used to satisfy debt.

Loan Terms – these are the conditions that apply to your loan such as repayment period, late fees and interest.

Loan to Value (LTV) – an assessment of lending risk for a lender. It is the difference between the loan amount and the current market value.

Loan Modification – a change to the existing terms and conditions of a loan.

Maturity Date – the date the final payment on a loan is due.

MAPR (military disclosure) – a requirement that the financial institution must disclose interest rates and all fees to military members both orally and in writing.

Monthly Payment – the dollar amount you must pay to the financial institution each month to satisfy your obligation.

Non-Sufficient Funds Fee (NSF) – a check written out of a bank account which does not have enough funds to cover the check amount written is typically charged a fee from the bank as well as the lender.

Note and Security Agreement (NSA) – refers to a promissory note to repay the loan and the security agreement outlines the collateral which is used for the loan.

Original Loan Amount – the principal loan amount of the loan which was first agreed upon.

Payment Deferral – pushes out the loan maturity date by allowing a period of time with no monthly payments.

Payoff Amount – this is the amount you owe on a loan through a specific date to pay off the loan in full including any interest or fees you owe.

Prepayment Penalty – a fee some lenders charge when you pay off a loan earlier than the term of the loan.

Principal Balance – the amount of money owed on a loan without any interest, finance charges or other fees.

Principal Reduction Payment – a payment on a loan that applies to the principal balance of a loan, not the interest or fees.

Proof of Employment – a document that proves you are employed. It can be the last two pay stubs, a letter from your employer, 1099’s or if you’re self-employed a W-2.

Proof of Income – similar to proof of employment, these are legal documents which prove you have income. It can be current pay stubs, 1099’s or W-2 forms. In some cases, past income tax returns may be needed.

Proof of Insurance – a document from your insurance company showing you have valid and current insurance on your vehicle.

Proof of Residency – this could be a current driver’s license, bank statement, utility bill, property tax bill, mortgage or lease agreement that proves you live where you claim.

Refinance – getting a new loan to replace an existing one. Refinancing can include benefits such as reducing your interest rate, reducing your monthly payment or extending the life of your loan.

Registration – refers to the registration of your vehicle with the state you live in to determine vehicle ownership.

Sales/Use Taxes – a fee the state imposes on the sale of a good or service. The taxes are paid to the state.

Simple Interest Loan – applies mostly to short-term loans where interest is charged daily vs monthly.

Soft Inquiry/Soft Pull/ Soft Credit Inquiry – allows a creditor to take a look at your credit report to get a sense of your creditworthiness. Soft credit pulls do not affect your credit score.

Term of Loan – the period of time a loan has to be repaid.

Title – a legal document proving ownership of a vehicle.

Title Transfer Cost – a fee the state charges to transfer title to another owner or lienholder.

Underwriting – verification from your lender regarding your income, assets, property and debt details.

Upside Down in a Loan – when you owe more than the asset is worth.

Usury Law – a law preventing lenders from charging excessively high interest rates on loans.

Vehicle Debt Protection – voluntary protection plan designed to help you pay off debt in the event of unexpected life events preventing you from paying. Our Lending Partners provide an opportunity to purchase Vehicle Debt Protection when re-financing an automobile.

Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) – a series of numbers and letters identifying your vehicle’s specific information.

Vehicle Protection Plan – optional insurance plan designed to keep your vehicle looking and running as well as the day, you purchased it. Our Lending Partners provide an opportunity to purchase a Vehicle Protection Plan when re-financing an automobile.

Vehicle Service Contract (VSC) – optional coverage designed to pay vehicle repairs due after your vehicle’s manufacturer’s warranty has expired. Our Lending Partners provide an opportunity to purchase a Vehicle Service Contract when re-financing an automobile.

Vehicle Value – the monetary value of your vehicle.

Warranty – a written guarantee provided by the seller or manufacturer regarding the condition of the product. It refers to the terms of which repairs or replacements will be made.