Glossary

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
A
Aftermarket Products

Optional products or services sold in addition to the vehicle, often at the time of sale or financing.

Ancillary Products

Additional products like dent repair or appearance protection offered with vehicle purchases.

Audit Readiness

Having documentation and processes in place to pass a regulatory or internal audit.

Administrator

Manages the claims and logistics of an aftermarket product.

C
Credit Insurance (Credit Life/Credit Disability)

Pays off the auto loan if the borrower dies or becomes disabled.

Cancellation Request

A formal request to terminate an aftermarket product before its expiration.

Chargeback

When a canceled product results in repayment from the dealership or lender to the provider.

D
Dealer Reserve

The portion of the interest rate or F&I product markup that a dealer retains as profit when arranging financing or selling aftermarket products.

E
Extended Warranty

Technically only applies to OEM-backed warranties; commonly used to refer to third-party service contracts.

F
F&I (Finance and Insurance)

The dealership department responsible for securing financing and offering aftermarket products.

G
GAP Waiver (Guaranteed Asset Protection Waiver)

Covers the difference between the vehicle’s value and the loan balance if the car is totaled or stolen.

K
Key/Remote Replacement

Covers replacement of lost or damaged vehicle keys or key fobs.

M
Maintenance Plan

Prepaid plans covering scheduled vehicle maintenance.

P
Product Provider

The entity that underwrites and stands behind the aftermarket product.

Product Company

Same as Product Provider

Paintless Dent Repair (PDR)

Covers minor dent repairs without repainting.

Pro Rata

A refund calculation method that returns the unused portion of an aftermarket product’s premium or cost based on time or mileage remaining—whichever applies.

R
Refund Calculation Method

The formula used to calculate refunds for canceled aftermarket products, e.g., Pro Rata or Rule of 78s.

Remittance

The process of sending collected fees for aftermarket products to the product provider.

Retail Installment Sales Contract (RISC)

The legal document outlining the terms of a financed vehicle purchase.

Regulator

Government authority overseeing aftermarket product compliance and conduct.

Rule of 78s

A refund calculation method that front-loads interest or premium earnings in a loan or contract. It’s named after the sum of the digits from 1 to 12 (1+2+…+12 = 78), which reflects how the refund is calculated across a 12-month term. In this method, the earliest months are weighted more heavily—meaning the lender or provider earns more up front, and the consumer gets less back if the loan or product is canceled early.

In this method, the earliest months are weighted more heavily—meaning the lender or provider earns more up front, and the consumer gets less back if the loan or product is canceled early.

T
Tire & Wheel Protection

Covers repair or replacement of tires and wheels damaged by road hazards.

U
Unearned Premium/Reserve

The portion of a product premium not yet ‘earned’ due to coverage still being in effect.

V
Vehicle Service Contract (VSC)

A contract to repair or replace certain vehicle components for a specified period and mileage.