Here’s a list of some common terminology you’ll need to familiarize yourself with, if financing is in your future.
Amount Financed
This is the total dollar amount of the bad credit auto loan after down payments and trade-in equity has been added or subtracted.
Amount Financed
The dollar amount of the credit that is provided to the buyer.
Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
The cost of credit for one year expressed as a percentage.
Assignee
The bank, finance company, credit union, or other financial institution that purchases the finance contract from a dealer.
Bank or Credit Union Financing
Also Off-Site Financing, the financing a buyer gets from his or her bank, credit union, or other financial institution to pay for a new or used auto.
Buy Rate
The wholesale rate offered to a dealership at which the ‘assignee‘ (finance company, bank or credit union) will purchase the contract.
Co-Signer
An individual who assumes equal responsibility for the contract. The account history will be reflected on the co-signer‘s credit history as well as the buyer’s. For this reason, consumers should exercise caution if asked to be a co-buyer for someone else. Since some co-signers are eventually asked to repay the obligation, individuals need to be sure that they can afford to do so before agreeing to be a co-signer.
Collateral
An asset pledged to the creditor until the financing is paid off. For example, if you own your home, it may be used as collateral to secure automobile financing.
Credit Application
The information that a buyer submits when applying for credit. It typically requires such items as name, Social Security Number, date of birth, current and previous addresses and length of stay, current and previous employers and length of employment, occupation, sources of income, total gross monthly income, and financial information on existing credit accounts. This can be done in person, over the phone, or electronically via the Internet.
Credit Insurance
There are two common types of credit insurance. Credit life insurance is optional insurance that pays the scheduled unpaid balance if the buyer dies. Credit disability insurance (sometimes called credit accident and health insurance) is optional insurance that pays the scheduled monthly payments if the buyer becomes disabled. As with most contract terms, the cost of optional credit insurance must be disclosed in writing, and if the buyer wants it, the buyer must agree to it and sign for it.
Credit Report
A report containing information about the buyer’s current and past credit obligations, payment record, and data from public records (e.g., a bankruptcy filing obtained from court documents). For each account, the credit report shows the applicant’s account number, type and terms of the account, credit limit, most recent balance, and most recent payment. The comments section describes the current status of the applicant’s account, including the creditor’s summary of past-due information and any legal steps that may have been taken to collect.
Credit Reporting Agency
A firm that collects, sorts, maintains, and sells information about an individual’s credit history. The most well-known credit reporting agencies are Equifax, Trans Union and Experian.
Credit Score A numerical score that reflects the credit risk you present based on information contained in your credit file. The better your history of credit, the higher your score. While some lenders depend on this score when approving your loan, some bad credit car loan companies don’t.
Creditor
A person or organization that regularly extends credit, subject to a finance charge.
Creditworthiness
The ability of a consumer to satisfy a credit obligation.
Dealer Financing
(On-Site Financing) Financing that a consumer obtains from the dealership rather than directly from a bank, credit union, or other financial institution to buy a new or used auto. The consumer enters into a contract with the dealership agreeing to pay the amount financed, at an agreed-upon finance rate, over a specified period of time.
Dealer Finance Income
A portion of the finance charge that is paid to or retained by the dealer as compensation for the dealer’s participation in providing financing to the buyer. Few people know that car dealers add to your interest rate when offering you an indirect loan. This can be as much as 5 percentage points.
Delinquent Accounts
Credit accounts that are past due. They usually are classified as 30, 60, 90 and 120 days past due. Commonly, many people have medical charge off’s, late or charged off credit card accounts, and others.
Depreciation
The amount by which a vehicle is expected to decrease in value over a specific period of time. New vehicles depreciate in value quickly, while buying a used car will not depreciate as quick.
Down Payment (Money Down)
An amount paid at time of purchase that reduces the amount financed. This includes any combination of cash, trade-in value of a previously-owned vehicle, rebates, and other non-cash credits. This is also commonly referred to by dealers as your “initial investment”.
Extended Service Contract (Extended Car Warranty)
Optional protection on specified mechanical and electrical components of the vehicle. It is available for purchase to extend and/or supplement the warranty coverage provided when purchasing or leasing a new, or in some cases, a used vehicle.
Finance Charge
The dollar amount that the credit will cost the buyer, based on the interest rate.
Fixed Rate Financing
An annual percentage rate that remains the same over the life of the finance contract.
Guaranteed Auto Protection (GAP) Insurance
Optional protection that pays the difference between the amount the buyer owes on the auto and the amount the buyer receives from his insurance company if the auto is stolen or destroyed before the buyer has satisfied the credit obligation. In some cases, the buyer may be responsible for the insurance deductible.
Indirect Lending
(Bank or Credit Union Financing) The financing a buyer gets a from his or her bank, credit union or other financial institution to pay for a new or used auto.
Installment Sale
A contract with a dealership to buy a vehicle by paying the amount financed, plus an agreed upon finance charge, over a certain period of time in installments, which are typically monthly payments.
Length of Contract
The total number of months the borrower has to pay his or her credit obligation.
Lien
A legal claim on ownership of the vehicle stemming from a debt. If the buyer does not make the payments, the lienholder can repossess and sell the vehicle as full or partial payment of the debt.
Monthly Budget
A tool commonly used to measure expenses against income, to help people prioritize their spending and manage their money on a monthly basis. Used to determine the amount of car payment that a buyer can afford.
On-Site Financing
(Dealer Financing) Financing that a consumer obtains from the dealership rather than directly from a bank, credit union, or other financial institution to buy a new or used auto The consumer enters into a contract with the dealership agreeing to pay the amount financed, at an agreed-upon finance rate, over a specified period of time. This is normally referred to as “Buy here – Pay Here” financing.
Repossession (REPO)
In the event that a credit obligation is not satisfied, the legal right a creditor has to take the asset pledged as collateral (typically the automobile) and sell it to pay off the credit obligation. Depending on state laws, this process is typically subject to rights to redeem (pay off the entire balance and get your vehicle back) or reinstate (pay any delinquent payments and get your vehicle back to start the contract again).
Sale Price
The dollar amount the buyer agrees to pay the dealer for the vehicle.
Secured Credit
Financing for which some form of acceptable collateral, such as a house or automobile, has been pledged.
Sell Rate
This is the interest rate that is charged on a loan contract, above the amount of the “buy rate” listed above.
Trade-in Allowance
The amount the dealer agrees to pay for a trade-in vehicle, which consumers often apply towards the purchase of a new vehicle. The allowance is not the actual cash value of your vehicle.
Trade-in ACV
This is the “actual cash value” of your trade that the dealer is truly paying for it.
Unsecured Credit
Credit for which no collateral has been pledged, such as a credit card. Car loans are secure forms of credit, as there is collateral.
