Important terms - the Glossary

A charge included in most lease/loan transactions that is either paid up front or included in the gross capitalized cost; may be called a bank fee, an administrative fee, or an assignment fee. This fee usually covers a variety of administrative or insurance costs. These may include the costs of obtaining a credit report, verifying insurance coverage, checking the accuracy and completeness of the lease documentation, recording the lease in data processing and accounting systems, and purchasing insurance for or reserving funds for residual-value losses, GAP-coverage losses, and other lease losses. Without an acquisition fee, lessors have to charge higher rental charges.

These expenses are paid by the owner if a vehicle is financed and by the lessee if it is leased. They particularly include maintenance costs, repairs and insurance premiums.

The abbreviation of Standard Terms and Conditions of Business: Pre-formulated terms of contract for a multitude of contracts that one party to a contract (user) lays down for the other party when a contract is entered into. For example, the Standard Terms and Conditions of Business define the reciprocal rights and duties of the parties to the contract also for leases. As the lessor has already rendered most of his performance at the beginning of a leasing agreement whereas the lessee is obliged to make payments for years, the leasing (rental) conditions primarily serve to protect these future claims.

In finance: the long-term repayment of a money debt (e.g. bonds, mortgages) based on a fixed repayment schedule. In the case of a full pay-out lease agreement, the cost of acquisition and other costs, including the lender's finance charges, are fully amortized by the payments made by the borrower (e.g. Classic Credit). A partial pay-out agreement (e.g. AutoCredit, leasing) is the term used if only a partial amortisation is achieved during the term of the agreement. With these agreements, full pay-out is achieved only by the right to offer the vehicle to the lessee being exercized or by extending the agreement for an appropriate period or by the lessee purchasing the item or by selling the financed item to third parties.
Partial pay-out, full pay-out claim

Amounts such as taxes, fees, charges for service contracts, payments for insurance, and any prior credit or lease balance that are included in the gross capitalized cost and are paid as part of the base monthly payment.

Total amount based on the annual repayment rate and the annual interest. A distinction must be made between invariable annuity (the annual repayment rate increases because the annual interest on the residual debt decreases), decreasing annuity (the repayment rate remains constant because the annual interest falls) and increasing annuity (the repayment rate increases more strongly than for an invariable annuity). Invariable annuity is usually chosen in car lease and finance.

The annualized cost of credit expressed as a percentage; used in finance agreements. An annual percentage rate, or an equivalent rate, is not used in leasing agreements.

Period of time under tax laws within which a commodity is usually "consumed" in a business in economic or technical terms.

An entity that arranges for the sale or lease of vehicles through another party.

Calculations are carried out by applying the annuity method as a basic principle. The acquisition costs, loan amount, unscheduled payment, down payment, term of the contract, interest and any residual values calculated etc. are the operands for finance and lease.

Commonly referred to as the "cap cost", this is the lease/loan price plus any administrative fee and other items included in the lease such as extended service contracts, life, accident and health policies.

The sum of any down payment, net trade-in allowance, and rebate used to reduce the gross capitalized cost. The cap cost reduction is subtracted from the gross cap cost to get the adjusted cap cost.

A finance company related to a particular automobile manufacturer or distributor.

It is possible to extend the contract by mutual consent. But it is not permitted to exceed the maximum term of contract permitted. Amounts must be recalculated to determine the "new" monthly instalment.

When a vehicle is financed or leased, the costs of ownership (e.g. for fuel, oil, car washing) must be borne by the borrower or lessee.

The credit check serves to guarantee that the borrower or lessee will be able to meet his financial commitments throughout the term of the contract. It is a part and parcel of proper contract processing.

The ability of a borrower to pay his total debt.

The value of your vehicle at today's market price.

A fee charged by some dealerships (who may call it a dealer documentation fee) or other financiers to cover the cost of preparing finance documents.

Total of (1) amount charged to cover the vehicle's projected decline in value through normal use during the lease term and (2) other items that are paid for over the lease term; calculated as the difference between the adjusted capitalized cost and the vehicle's residual value. This amount is a major part of your base monthly payment.

If the customer grants the bank or leasing company permission to collect the receivables due in each case by direct debit, the monthly instalments will be automatically collected from the lessee's/borrower's bank account.

A fee often charged by a lessor or assignee to defray the cost of preparing and selling the vehicle at the end of the lease if you do not purchase the vehicle but instead return it to the lessor or assignee.

A fee charged by some dealerships (who may call it a dealer documentation fee) or other lessors to cover the cost of preparing lease documents.

An initial cash payment in a lease/ loan that reduces the capitalized cost or is applied to other amounts due at lease signing. See "Capitalized cost reduction".

With leasing arrangements, the purchase price for the items purchased from the lessor is usually due for payment after they have been taken over by the lessee.

Ending of the lease/loan before the scheduled termination date for any reason, voluntary or involuntary (for example, you return the vehicle early or default on the lease/loan, or the vehicle is stolen or totaled). In most cases of early termination, you must pay an early termination charge.

The amount you owe if your lease/loan ends before its scheduled termination date, calculated as described in your lease/loan agreement. The earlier your lease/loan is terminated, the greater this charge is likely to be. The charge is generally the difference between the early termination payoff and the amount credited to you for the vehicle.

The total amount you owe if your lease/loan is terminated before the scheduled end of the term, before the value credited to you for the vehicle is subtracted. The early termination payoff is calculated as described in your lease/loan agreement. It may include the unpaid lease/loan balance and other charges.

The effective annual interest rate expresses the customer's actual expenses for a loan every year.

In an instalment sale or loan, the positive difference between the trade-in or market value of your vehicle and the loan payoff amount. When the loan is paid off, the equity is the market value of the vehicle.

The amount that a willing buyer would pay to a willing seller to purchase a certain asset at a particular point in time.

The total amount you will pay for taxes, licences, registration fees, title fees, and official (governmental) fees over the term of your lease/loan. Because fees and taxes may change during the term of your lease/loan, they may be stated as estimates.

The GST charged when purchasing a motor vehicle is included if it is financed or privately leased. With business car leasing, the lease instalments are calculated net − without GST − as a basic rule.

The agreed value of the vehicle at the time you lease it, which generally may be negotiated, plus any items you agree to pay for over the lease term (amortized amounts), such as taxes, fees, service contracts, insurance, and any prior credit or lease balance.

Possible method of providing cover for credit/loans. This involves a contract usually only obliging one party in which the guarantor promises the creditor of another (the principal debtor) that he/it will accept responsibility that the current or future obligations of this person are met.

The identity and signing powers of the customer and, if applicable, his power of representation must be ascertained on the basis of his personal identity card, passport, extract from the commercial register or trade registration before the contract is signed.

Refers to the inability to meet one's financial commitments and, in addition to over-indebtedness, is the reason for bankruptcy and composition proceedings. If the borrower/lessee becomes insolvent, the financing company may instantly terminate the loan/leasing agreement, declare all the outstanding loan/lease payments discounted and due for payment and impound and then sell the loan/leased item. The sales proceeds − less the creditor’s own and third-party recovery expenses − are deducted from the borrower's/lessee's residual debt called due.

Fee paid to the bank for granting a loan. The disclosure of the interest as an effective annual interest rate is required by law in this connection.

A payment received after the specified due date. In most cases, a payment made after any grace period triggers a late charge.

The most important legal provisions and regulations on which car insurance contracts are based.

Legal claim or charge against property for the satisfaction of a debt.

If you cannot use your own vehicle for a certain period after an accident which you are not at fault for (third-party liability damage), e.g. while it is being repaired, compensation is usually paid per day for the loss of use. The daily rate depends on the vehicle type.

The monthly payment is the term used to refer to the amount that the customer owes the bank or the leasing company each month. The monthly finance payment is calculated based on the financing method, the vehicle model, the term of the contract, any down payments and, if applicable, the residual value and the mileage. The most important parameters for the level of the monthly lease payment are the vehicle model, the term of the contract, any unscheduled payments, the residual value and the mileage.

Also referred to as amount paid out. The amount which is actually made available to the customer.

Vehicle without any mileage or registration.

The minor and reasonable wear a vehicle endures during everyday, ordinary operation. Normal wear and tear can include things like small door dings, paint scratches or stone chips.

The owner of a motor vehicle is a person who uses it for his own account and has an actual power of disposal over it which presupposes such use. Consequently, the registered user and the owner of a vehicle do not have to be identical. But being the owner of a vehicle is particularly important when it comes to the duty to take out a third-party liability insurance and liability in road traffic, i.e. the owner's duty to compensate any damage that can arise when driving a motor vehicle.

Is the exclusive right to or control over a vehicle: it is also referred to as having title. When two people own the same vehicle, it is called co-ownership

Describes the book value of an asset not yet repaid during the term of the contract. It can differ from the actual market value due to the difference between repayment by monthly payments and an actual loss in value. After making the (final) payment which discharges the loan, ownership of the vehicle is transferred to the borrower.

An amount that may be offered by a manufacturer, dealer, lessor, creditor or assignee that may be paid to you separately or credited to your lease/loan/insurance agreement.

Manufacturer's suggested retail price, sometimes called the "sticker price".

A fee charged by a state motor vehicle department to register a vehicle and authorize its use on the public roadways.

The end-of-term value of the vehicle established at the beginning of the lease and used in calculating your base monthly payment. The residual value is deducted from the adjusted capitalized cost to determine the depreciation and any amortized amounts. It is an estimate that may be determined, in part, by using residual value guidebooks. The residual value may be higher or lower than the realized value at the scheduled end of the lease.

Publications used, in part, by some lessors and assignees to establish vehicle residual values.

An amount you may be required to pay, usually at the beginning of the lease/loan, that may be used by the lessor, creditor or assignee in the event of default or at the end of the lease/loan to offset any amounts you owe under the lease/loan agreement. Any remaining amount may be refunded to you.

The disclosure of information about oneself serves to assess the financial circumstances of the applicant when he applies to finance or lease a vehicle. In this connection, a distinction is made between information disclosed by private or business customers. If a private individual supplies information on himself, he provides particulars on himself, his income, his work and living situation. Self-disclosure by business customers involves the customer providing detailed information on his company, e.g. about a balance sheet.

A programme or plan in which certain items are subsidized by the manufacturer, the finance company, the lessor or the assignee.

This is the term for a licence plate used for test drives and journeys to deliver vehicles. It is issued by the registration office if documentation of a third-party liability insurance is presented.

Description of the individual terms of products or services. Besides price terms, other terms are defined in the Standard Terms and Conditions of Business for leases and finance.

Describes the duration of the contract. A specific term is agreed for financing and leasing which is an important parameter for calculating the monthly payments. With leasing, the term is based on tax regulations and the reasonable economic lifetime of the leased item. Terms under one year are not possible for tax reasons.

Declaration of intent by a party to a contract that it is intended to end a permanent debt obligation (e.g. loan or leasing agreement). It becomes legally effective once the other party to the contract receives it and is not generally bound to any legal form. Legal regulations apply to leasing and loan agreements.

Legal document that identifies the owner of the vehicle. The lessor, creditor, or assignee, not you, holds title to the leased vehicle.

The sum of the capitalized cost reduction, the total of base monthly payments, and other charges due under the lease/loan agreement. The total contractual obligation excludes any security deposit as well as sales taxes and any other fees and taxes paid to a third party. If the total contractual obligation exceeds $25,000, the Consumer Leasing Act does not apply.

If after an accident the estimated repair costs exceed the replacement value of a vehicle so that repairing it does not appear financially advisable, the replacement cost for an equivalent vehicle is compensated instead of the repair costs. In the process, the residual value of the vehicle involved in the accident is deducted.

The base monthly payment plus monthly sales or use taxes and any other monthly charges.

The sum of the periodic payments, the end-of-term disposition fee, any other charges, and all amounts due at lease signing or delivery, minus refundable amounts such as a security deposit and any monthly payments included in the amount due at lease/loan signing or delivery.

The net value of your vehicle credited toward the purchase or lease of another vehicle. If you own the vehicle being traded in, you sell it to the dealer or lessor. If you are leasing the vehicle being traded in, you are turning in the vehicle (either at the scheduled end of the lease or upon early termination) to the dealer or lessor who has agreed to pay any remaining balance on your agreement. The amount credited may be positive or negative, depending on the agreed-upon value of the traded-in vehicle and any remaining balance on your agreement.

Publications that report current wholesale and (or) retail prices of vehicles. Wholesale values are generally determined from such factors as auto auction prices, other wholesale transactions, and regional demand. Prices are listed according to year, make, model, options, mileage, and condition of the vehicle. Retail prices are generally determined by such factors as dealership retail sales prices, other retail transactions, and regional demand.

The vehicle price is the total amount consisting of the basic price of the vehicle and the optional extras.