Auto Loan Glossary

Please note that these definitions are for general informational purposes only, and not meant to be complete descriptions. Contact your loan provider or financial institution for more detailed information on these terms.

Acceleration Clause

This gives your lender the green light to speed the rate up in which you pay back the loan, or even request immediate full payment in the case of default.

Adverse Action

Refers to when a creditor denies an applicant’s request for a loan.

Adverse Action Notice

The official document that explains why a loan request was not accepted.

Amortization

Pertains to repaying a loan with regular payments to cover the loan's interest and principal.

Amortization Table

A graphic showing the amount of principal and interest due throughout the life of the loan; it also reveals the decreasing amount owed by the borrower as the payments occur.

Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

A standardized method of expressing the interest rates on a loan, including the miscellaneous fees associated with obtaining the loan.

Appreciation

Refers to an increase in a vehicle's value.

Asset

Anything owned by you with significant monetary value. Examples include stocks and property.

Balloon Payment

Refers to a large payment due at the end of your loan. It's a favored option for keeping monthly payments small.

Base Price

The price of a car, stripped of all options. Also known as "sticker price" and "MSRP."

Blue Book

Refers to Kelley Blue Book. One of the main sources used for establishing a car's value. Hence, the term "Blue Book Value."

Capitalized Cost Reduction

Any trade-in credit, cash down payment or rebate credit used in reducing a loan amount.

Caveat Emptor

Latin term for "buyer beware." Or, in other words, "buy at your own risk."

Clear Title

Any title without liens or legal ownership questions.

Closed-End Credit

An agreement where you agree to pay the auto loan and any finance charges in full over a predetermined period of time.

Collateral

Refers to a borrower’s asset (such as a car) that could be forfeited if a loan isn’t repaid.

Comprehensive Insurance

Coverage that protects your vehicle against any other damage not resulting from a collision. Examples include fire, theft, vandalism, flooding, and hail storms.

Co-Signer

An individual who signs the loan agreement along with the loan applicant to help the applicant obtain the financing. If the applicant fails to meet the terms of the loan, the co-signer is legally obligated to pay the debt and fulfill the agreement.

Credit Disability Insurance

Protection that covers your car payments in the event you become disabled; the terms vary according to the policy.

Credit History

A record of your debt payments, as well as the debts you still owe; this information is used by lenders to help determine the amount of risk associated with providing you with a loan.

Creditor

Another name for lender.

Dealer Invoice

The price a dealer pays the manufacturer for an auto.

Debtor

Another name for borrower.

Default

Refers to when the debtor violates the terms of the loan agreement; doing so may force the creditor to seize the loan collateral and sell it to pay off the loan.

Delinquent

When a loan payment isn’t made by its due date.

Direct Financing

Loans made from the lender to the borrower without a third-party (such as a dealer) involved.

Down Payment

The money you pay initially towards the purchase price of the vehicle; down payments are not funded by your loan.

Due Date

The date each month by which your payment must be made; if you fail to make your payment by its due date, you’ll likely be penalized with a late fee.

Early Termination Charge

The fee a dealer charges if you return a leased vehicle early.

Endorser

A person who signs ownership interest over to another party.

Excess Wear Charge

The price a dealer charges if your leased vehicle suffers from excessive wear and tear. Definitions of this are explained when signing the lease. Examples may include torn seats and stained floor carpeting.

Extended Warranty

An extended warranty optional contract offered by the dealership or a third-party company that covers unexpected car problems after purchase for a designated period of time.

Fair Credit Reporting Act

A federal law that regulates the disclosure of consumer credit ratings by credit reporting agencies.

Fair Market Value

Refers to the current price to buy a vehicle, based on market averages.

Finance Charge

The cost of the loan to the borrower, expressed in dollar amounts.

Fixed Rate Loan

A loan with a rate that remains constant throughout the life of the loan.

Guaranteed Auto Protection (GAP) Insurance

Coverage that pays the difference between what you owe on an auto loan and the fair market value of the vehicle.

Indirect Financing

A loan that originates with the dealership and gets assigned to a financial institution.

Interest

The cost of borrowing money from a lender.

Interest Rate

A predetermined rate added on to your loan or credit. This is part of the annual percentage rate (APR) equation.

Late Fee

A penalty assessed by the lender if you fail to submit your payment on time.

Lien

A legal, secured interest in a loan.

Lien Holder

An individual or institution with a legal, secured interest in a loan.

Loan Balance

The amount of money left to pay on the loan; it takes all the payments made to date into account.

Low-Interest Financing

A loan with a below-market interest rate.

Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP)

The price a manufacturer suggests for a vehicle, usually shown on the vehicle's window sticker.

Maturity Date

The date by which your loan must be paid in full.

Mileage Allowance

The number of miles you're allowed to drive as stipulated in a lease agreement.

Mileage Charge

The fee a dealer will charge for exceeding your lease agreement's mileage allotment.

Mint Condition

Term used for describing a vehicle that's just like new.

Mop and Glow

Industry term used by dealerships describing add-ons that make a car shine, but add little or no value. Paint sealant, for example, falls into this category.

Negative Equity

The difference between a trade's value and the amount owed.

Non-Prime Lender

Refers to financial institutions that provide loans to those with inferior credit histories; these loans carry higher interest rates due to the increased risks involved with the loan.

Owner Financing

A deal in which the owner agrees to lend the buyer all or part of the money.

Price Protection

After announcing a price increase on a vehicle, the manufacturer will guarantee the original price if you purchase it before a certain date.

Principal

The amount of the loan, minus interest charges and other fees. If you buy a car worth $20,000, make a $2,000 down payment, and finance the rest with a loan, the principal on your loan is $18,000.

Qualify

Your standing, in the eyes of the lender, for loan eligibility.

Rebate

A selling device used by manufacturers, lowering a vehicle's price.

Remaining Term

The time it will take to pay off the remainder of an existing loan.

Secured Loans

Loans that are backed by some sort of collateral.

Service Contract

Another name for a vehicle's extended warranty.

Simple Interest

A method for calculating interest by applying a periodic rate to a loan's outstanding balance on a daily basis.

Sticker Price

Another name for a vehicle's base price.

Term

The length of the loan; a two-year term means your loan is for 24 months.

Trade-In Value

This is the amount a dealership will credit you for the car you give for partial or full-payment for another vehicle in the lot.

Truth-In-Lending Act

A federal law that forces lenders to disclose the terms of the loan in a uniform manner; doing so makes it easier consumers compare loans.

Underwater

When you owe more on your vehicle than its actual worth. Also known as "upside-down."

Underwriting

Fancy term describing the process of verifying information needed for approving a loan or insurance policy.

Unsecured Loan

A loan that does not require collateral.

Up-Front Costs

A fee you must pay at the time of signing a car lease agreement. Examples of this include first month's payment, a down payment and a refundable security deposit.

Usury Law

Establishes the maximum interest rate that can be charged on a loan.

Variable Interest Rate

The percentage you must pay on a loan (usually as described as an annual percentage) and which fluctuates with the current rate index.

Walk-Away Lease

The most common type of car lease in which the lender/dealer assumes the risk of predicting the vehicle's value at the end of the lease's term. This is also known as a "closed-end" lease.

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