Glossary

Annual percentage rate (APR)

Yearly interest rate on the loan APR represent the real cost on the loan. APR is the best way of comparing the cost of borrowing from one lender to another.

Down payment

The amount of money which has to be deposited initially to bring down the cost of financing.

Cosigner

A person who signs your loan and assumes equal responsibility for repayment. Cosigner is usually required when one does not have enough credit to back their loan claim.

Credit history

A record of person’s financial life giving the details about current and repaid debts. This is used by lending company to asses the risk of a potential borrower.

Fair price

Fair price is usually less than the price on the sticker but more than the dealer’s price. It will be considered a fair deal if the dealer pays you approximately the wholesale book price.
 
Guarantee

A security provided to promise the repayment of loan amount borrowed. This guarantee is used to repay the debt in case of failure of repayment.

Refinance

To process of finding new financing for current loans. The current loan is repaid from the proceeds of new refinanced loan. Typically new refinanced loan is at lower interest rate.

Loan term

This is the term in which the entire loan is repaid from the beginning and end of loan.