Sometimes using industry jargon becomes second nature and we forget that others don’t always speak our language. Most of us are guilty of doing it at one time or another.
Like the other day when my daughter’s “dogs were barking” after her “double.” They were “slammed” and “didn’t have enough hands” all day. Thank goodness I used to wait tables or she would’ve had to translate for sure.
Think back to the last time you bought a vehicle. Did you feel, at times, like the salesperson or finance manager was speaking a different language? It can happen. Luckily, learning just a few of the terms can help.
Here are a few key terms to help get you started.
- Amortization
With any simple interest loan, you are amortizing, or paying down, the loan amount as you make your regular, monthly payment. A portion of every payment goes toward the loan principal, and a portion goes toward interest. The amount going toward principal is smaller than interest at first, but gradually grows larger as the loan moves along.
Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
Simply put, this is the cost of borrowing funds. The APR is the yearly interest a lender charges on a loan.
Buyer’s Order/Purchase Order
Similar to making a purchase at a store and receiving a receipt, the buyer’s order is your bill of sale or “receipt” for the vehicle. It has all the details of the sale, including your (the buyer’s) information, the vehicle information, the purchase price, taxes and fees.
Destination Charge
Just like it sounds, the destination charge is the fee charged for transporting the vehicle to the dealer from the manufacturer or port of entry. Generally this charge is passed on to you, the buyer.Down Payment
Typically a down payment is considered cash. But it can also be equity from a trade-in. The cash or trade equity is subtracted from the cash price of your new vehicle to reduce the amount you need to finance.
Excess Wear and Tear
This means a vehicle is damaged, poorly maintained or shows signs of age that is worse than what is normally expected and not repaired or replaced. Some examples of excess wear and tear can include cracked windshields, body damage and broken or missing equipment.
You typically hear about excess wear and tear on a vehicle when it comes to leasing, but it can also be a factor when determining the trade value of a vehicle.
Extended Service Contract (ESC)
Also known as Vehicle Service Contract (VSC), this is added coverage that you may choose to purchase at the time you purchase your vehicle. What is covered can vary widely depending on the terms and conditions of each agreement, so it’s important to thoroughly understand the coverage before you buy.
GAP Coverage
You can choose to purchase Guaranteed Asset Protection (GAP) when you finance a vehicle. (GAP is included on all Chrysler Capital lease contracts.) If you purchased GAP and your vehicle is ever stolen or destroyed, GAP pays the difference between what is owed and what the vehicle is worth.
Invoice Price
Simply put, this is what the dealer pays the manufacturer for the vehicle, including the destination charge. The invoice price does not include any add-ons that may have been installed by the dealer or requested by a customer.
MSRP
The Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) represents the manufacturer’s recommended selling price for a vehicle.
Negative Equity
Also known as being “upside down,” this occurs when the amount you owe on a vehicle is greater than what the vehicle is worth.
Registration
Different from a title in that it must be renewed on a regular basis, registration shows proof that appropriate fees have been paid in the driver’s state of residence and the vehicle can be legally driven and properly identified.
Simple Interest
Simple interest is interest that is applied only to the original (principal) amount of money that was borrowed. So, with a simple interest loan, as your principal goes down, so does the amount of interest that is charged.
When you pay on your scheduled due date, you pay exactly the amount of interest agreed on in your contract. If you pay late, even by a day, more interest will have accrued since your last payment, so more of the payment will go toward interest. Pay early, however, and a larger part of the payment will be applied to principal and a smaller part to interest. This may enable you to save and potentially pay off the vehicle quicker.
Title
The title of the vehicle is the ownership document. When a vehicle changes ownership, the title is transferred to the new owner’s name within a specified period of time, depending on state rules and regulations.
Trade Equity
Also known as positive equity, this is when the amount owed is less than the market value of a vehicle. If you’re trading your vehicle and you have trade or positive equity, you can use that toward a down payment on your new vehicle.
Understanding some of the most common terms that come up while you’re at the dealership can be helpful. But don’t be afraid to ask your salesperson or the finance manager questions too.
It’s important that you feel comfortable when you’re buying or leasing, and that includes understanding the terms of your purchase.
I hate writing about myself. You want me to write about a car. Definitely. Auto finance? Now you’re talking! Me? Snoozefest. But since I have all this space just begging to be filled, I’m going to give this a shot. The auto industry started calling my name way back in 2001. I cut my teeth…
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