Finance terms can be confusing when choosing the right finance option for you and if you don't understand the finance terms, the loan could cost you more than you expected! Below is some common terms used when arranging vehicle finance and loans to help you understand what they mean and avoid unexpected additions to your loan.
This list of definitions should help you to understand the vehicle finance jargon and see you to getting an affordable vehicle loan for your dream vehicle.
This is a deal where you pay no interest on a loan.
This is a standard method of calculating how much a loan will cost you over the full period of the loan. The APR reflects the total charge for credit. This is not the flat rate.
If you choose to use PCP as your finance option when buying a used vehicle, you can defer part of the loan to the end of the agreement - a balloon payment. You can either pay this amount off and the vehicle is yours or you can give the vehicle back to the motor finance company.
This is the cost of how much it would be to change your vehicle. This is calculated by the difference between the value of your existing vehicle and the price of the replacement vehicle.
This is a contract between you and the lender, this could be a motor finance company or a bank for instance. They guarantee to give you a loan or a vehicle and you agree to make the required payments at the relevant time.
This is leasing a vehicle for a fixed period of time at a fixed monthly rental.
This is an indication of how much your vehicle loses value over a period of time.
This is the difference between the value of your vehicle and what you have left to pay on the loan
If the interest rate charged and/or the monthly payments are fixed throughout the full term of the loan, then the rate is called a fixed rate.
You are still liable for a loan if a vehicle is written-off. Normal insurance only pays for the value of the vehicle at the time of the accident or theft, which may be less than the amount outstanding on the loan. Gap Insurance covers the 'gap' between what the insurance pays out and what remains of the loan.
Please see our dedicated section on Hire Purchase as a finance option.
This is similar to a hire purchase offering. The finance option will offer a flexible deposit, flexible repayment periods and a flexible percentage of the purchase price can be deferred to the end of the agreement.
If you arrange your vehicle finance using the PCP method, you defer a percentage of the total cost of the vehicle to the end of the contract. This percentage is known as the Minimum Guaranteed Future Value (MGFV). The MGFV plus your deposit is subtracted from the selling price of the vehicle and your monthly payments are based on the balance (plus interest on the balance and MGFV). At the end of the agreement you can opt to make a balloon payment to keep the vehicle based on the MGFV.
If your vehicle is worth less than the amount you have left to pay on your loan.
If you arrange your vehicle finance using the PCP method and want to keep the vehicle, you may need to pay an additional charge to pay the vehicle.
You can exchange your existing vehicle as part payment for your new vehicle. Please see our dedicated section on part exchange and selling your vehicle.
Please see our dedicated section on PCP as a finance option.
This is the value of your used vehicle taking into account depreciation, condition and mileage.
For more information about the right finance option for you, please watch our Hendy Finance video or contact us for more information.
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