{"id":3079,"date":"2022-01-18T15:21:19","date_gmt":"2022-01-18T15:21:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gravitylending.com\/?page_id=3079"},"modified":"2026-04-15T09:18:14","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T14:18:14","slug":"glossary","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/gravitylending.com\/glossary\/","title":{"rendered":"Glossary"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><p>[vc_row][vc_column]\n<!-- This is the shortcode for the hero banner. -->\n<div class=\"row hero-banner\" style=\"background-image: url('\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/shutterstock_1378081220.webp');\">\n\t<div class=\"hero-overlay\">\n\t\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-md-8 hero-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row el_class=&#8221;container align-sides&#8221;][vc_column css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1641325087617{margin-top: 60px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h1><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Need to Learn More About Auto Refinancing? Gravity Lending is Here to Help You!<\/span><\/h1>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\">Refinancing your auto loan can be confusing. Your personal loan officer at Gravity Lending may use terms you\u2019re not familiar with. We\u2019ve compiled a list of the most common terms and definitions to help guide you. As always, if you would like to speak with one of our loan officers give us a call at<\/span> <a href=\"tel:1+888-602-1125\">1-888-602-1125<\/a>.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]<span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>ACH (Automated Clearing House)<\/strong> &#8211; an electronic transfer of funds to make payments.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Amortization and Re-amortization<\/strong> &#8211; refers to the process of paying off a loan (debt) with regular payments over time. Re-Amortization is a change in the regular payment amount, such as paying more toward the principal loan balance.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Amount Financed<\/strong> &#8211; this is the total amount of the money borrowed on the loan.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Annual Percentage Rate (APR)<\/strong> &#8211; this is the cost you pay each year to borrow money. The number includes fees and is expressed as a percentage.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Applicant\/Co-Applicant<\/strong> &#8211; this is the person who is applying for financing with a formal application. A co-applicant is a second person who is applying for the same financing on the same formal application.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Borrower \/ Co-Borrower<\/strong> &#8211; a person or persons who are taking out a loan from a lender with the agreement of paying back the money borrowed, typically with interest.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Change of Ownership &#8211; Auto Loan<\/strong> &#8211; when ownership of a vehicle moves from one person to another.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Collateral<\/strong> &#8211; an asset a lender accepts as security for a loan.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Consumer Reporting Bureau (or Agency)<\/strong> &#8211; an agency which collects personal information about consumers and uses that information to inform lending institutions about a person\u2019s creditworthiness.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Cosigner<\/strong> &#8211; someone who takes full responsibility for paying back a loan in the event the primary borrower fails to repay.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Credit Report<\/strong> &#8211; a compilation of someone\u2019s credit history. The report shows all known debt a person owes and their timeliness in repayment.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Credit Score<\/strong> &#8211; a numerical range between 300 and 850 that is based primarily on a credit report. The higher a person\u2019s credit score is, the higher their chances are of qualifying for a loan.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Current Loan Balance<\/strong> &#8211; the unpaid principal and interest of a loan.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Debt<\/strong> &#8211; money a person owes to another person, institution or organization.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Debt to Income Ratio (DTI)<\/strong> &#8211; a personal finance measure comparing monthly debt payments to the income a person earns.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Department of Motor Vehicles<\/strong> &#8211; a government agency run by the state that administers vehicle registration and driver licensing.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Depreciation<\/strong> &#8211; refers to the rate at which your vehicle loses its value over time.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Depreciation Protection<\/strong> &#8211; insurance that protects your vehicle\u2019s value in the event it is totaled in an accident or stolen.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Documentation Fee<\/strong> &#8211; fees charged by some companies to process your paperwork. At Gravity Lending, we do not charge documentation fees.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Down Payment<\/strong> &#8211; money paid up front toward the purchase of an asset such as a car or a home. Down payments are not part of the Amount Financed.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Due Date<\/strong> &#8211; for loans or debt this is the date of the month your payment needs to be paid by to avoid more interest charges or late fees.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>FICO Score<\/strong> &#8211; similar to a credit score, but FICO is used by lenders to predict the likelihood that someone will pay back debt.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Finance Charge<\/strong> &#8211; either a flat fee or a percentage of the amount borrowed which is paid to the lender. It is the cost of borrowing money.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Finance Rate<\/strong> &#8211; it is the interest rate you can get financing from a lender for a loan. Rates can be fixed or variable.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Fixed Rate Loan<\/strong> &#8211; an interest rate that does not change. The rate of interest will apply to the entire term of the loan.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Guaranteed Asset Protection (GAP)<\/strong> &#8211; this is supplemental insurance coverage that would help you pay off your auto loan in the event your car is totaled or stolen. Gravity Lending provides an opportunity to purchase <a style=\"color: #333333;\" href=\"\/gap-insurance\/\">Guaranteed Asset Protection (GAP)<\/a>&nbsp;when re-financing an automobile.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Hard Inquiry\/Hard Pull\/Hard Credit Inquiry<\/strong> &#8211; this occurs when you apply for a new line of credit. A hard inquiry will typically impact your credit score.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Interest Rate<\/strong> &#8211; is the price you pay to borrow money.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Kelly Blue Book Value<\/strong> &#8211; is a recognized standard to get your vehicle\u2019s current worth.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Late Fee<\/strong> &#8211; a charge that is imposed for being late on a loan payment.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Lease Buyout<\/strong> &#8211; pays off the remaining balance of your lease agreement for a predetermined amount of money.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Lien<\/strong> &#8211; a legal claim against a property that is used to satisfy debt.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Loan Terms<\/strong> &#8211; these are the conditions that apply to your loan such as repayment period, late fees and interest.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Loan to Value (LTV)<\/strong> &#8211; an assessment of lending risk for a lender. It is the difference between the loan amount and the current market value.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Loan Modification<\/strong> &#8211; a change to the existing terms and conditions of a loan.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Maturity Date<\/strong> &#8211; the date the final payment on a loan is due.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>MAPR (military disclosure)<\/strong> &#8211; a requirement that the financial institution must disclose interest rates and all fees to military members both orally and in writing.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Monthly Payment<\/strong> &#8211; the dollar amount you must pay to the financial institution each month to satisfy your obligation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Non-Sufficient Funds Fee (NSF<\/strong>) &#8211; a check written out of a bank account which does not have enough funds to cover the check amount written is typically charged a fee from the bank as well as the lender.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Note and Security Agreement (NSA)<\/strong> &#8211; refers to a promissory note to repay the loan and the security agreement outlines the collateral which is used for the loan.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Original Loan Amount<\/strong> &#8211; the principal loan amount of the loan which was first agreed upon.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Payment Deferral<\/strong> &#8211; pushes out the loan maturity date by allowing a period of time with no monthly payments.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Payoff Amount<\/strong> &#8211; this is the amount you owe on a loan through a specific date to pay off the loan in full including any interest or fees you owe.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Prepayment Penalty<\/strong> &#8211; a fee some lenders charge when you pay off a loan earlier than the term of the loan.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Principal Balance<\/strong> &#8211; the amount of money owed on a loan without any interest, finance charges or other fees.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Principal Reduction Payment<\/strong> &#8211; a payment on a loan that applies to the principal balance of a loan, not the interest or fees.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Proof of Employment<\/strong> &#8211; a document that proves you are employed. It can be the last two pay stubs, a letter from your employer, 1099\u2019s or if you\u2019re self-employed a W-2.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Proof of Income<\/strong> &#8211; similar to proof of employment, these are legal documents which prove you have income. It can be current pay stubs, 1099\u2019s or W-2 forms. In some cases, past income tax returns may be needed.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Proof of Insurance<\/strong> &#8211; a document from your insurance company showing you have valid and current insurance on your vehicle.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Proof of Residency<\/strong> &#8211; this could be a current driver\u2019s license, bank statement, utility bill, property tax bill, mortgage or lease agreement that proves you live where you claim.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Refinance<\/strong> &#8211; getting a new loan to replace an existing one. Refinancing can include benefits such as reducing your interest rate, reducing your monthly payment or extending the life of your loan.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Registration<\/strong> &#8211; refers to the registration of your vehicle with the state you live in to determine vehicle ownership.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Sales\/Use Taxes<\/strong> &#8211; a fee the state imposes on a sale of a good or service. The taxes are paid to the state.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Simple Interest Loan<\/strong> &#8211; applies mostly to short-term loans where interest is charged daily vs monthly.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Soft Inquiry\/Soft Pull\/ Soft Credit Inquiry<\/strong> &#8211; allows a creditor to take a look at your credit report to get a sense of your creditworthiness. Soft credit pulls do not affect your credit score.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Term of Loan<\/strong> &#8211; the period of time a loan has to be repaid.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Texas Department of Transportation (Texas\u2019s DMV)<\/strong> &#8211; a government agency that titles vehicles and issues driver\u2019s licenses. <a style=\"color: #333333;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.txdmv.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.txdmv.gov\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Title<\/strong> &#8211; a legal document proving ownership of a vehicle.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Title Transfer Cost<\/strong> &#8211; a fee the state charges to transfer title to another owner or lienholder.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Underwriting<\/strong> &#8211; verification from your lender regarding your income, assets, property and debt details.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Upside Down in a Loan<\/strong> &#8211; when you owe more than the asset is worth.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Usury Law<\/strong> &#8211; a law preventing lenders from charging excessively high interest rates on loans.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Vehicle Debt Protection<\/strong> &#8211; voluntary protection plan designed to help you pay off debt in the event of unexpected life events preventing you from paying. Gravity Lending provides an opportunity to purchase <a style=\"color: #333333;\" href=\"\/vehicle-debt-protection\/\">Vehicle Debt Protection<\/a> when re-financing an automobile.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)<\/strong> &#8211; a series of numbers and letters identifying your vehicle\u2019s specific information.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Vehicle Protection Plan<\/strong> &#8211; optional insurance plan designed to keep your vehicle looking and running as well as the day you purchased it. Gravity Lending provides an opportunity to purchase a <a style=\"color: #333333;\" href=\"\/vehicle-protection-plan\/\">Vehicle Protection Plan<\/a> when re-financing an automobile.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Vehicle Service Contract (VSC)<\/strong> &#8211; optional coverage designed to pay vehicle repairs due after your vehicle\u2019s manufacturer\u2019s warranty has expired. Gravity Lending provides an opportunity to purchase a <a style=\"color: #333333;\" href=\"\/vehicle-service-contract\/\">Vehicle Service Contract<\/a> when re-financing an automobile.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Vehicle Value<\/strong> &#8211; the monetary value of your vehicle.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>Warranty<\/strong> &#8211; a written guarantee provided by the seller or manufacturer regarding the condition of the product. It refers to the terms of which repairs or replacements will be made.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[vc_row][vc_column][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row el_class=&#8221;container align-sides&#8221;][vc_column css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1641325087617{margin-top: 60px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;] Need to Learn More About Auto Refinancing? Gravity Lending is Here to Help You! Refinancing your auto loan can be confusing. Your personal loan officer at Gravity Lending may use terms you\u2019re not familiar with. We\u2019ve compiled a list of the most common terms and definitions to help [&#8230;]<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"btn btn-secondary understrap-read-more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/gravitylending.com\/glossary\/\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-templates\/gravity.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3079","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gravitylending.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3079","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gravitylending.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gravitylending.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gravitylending.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gravitylending.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3079"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/gravitylending.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3079\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6742,"href":"https:\/\/gravitylending.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3079\/revisions\/6742"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gravitylending.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3079"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}