Glossary of terms

The terms you are most likely to encounter when applying for a personal loan or vehicle finance in NZ

Finance terms explained

Lending comes with its own language. This glossary covers the terms you are most likely to encounter when applying for a personal loan or vehicle finance in New Zealand.

Affordability assessment
Akahu
AML/CFT (Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism)
Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
Arrears
ATM (Aggregate Trailer Mass)
Bank statements
BNPL (Buy Now Pay Later)
CCCFA (Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act 2003)
Centrix
CIN (Customer Information Notice)
Class 1 FAP
Comprehensive insurance
Consumer Guarantees Act (CGA)
Cooling-off period
Credit bureau
Credit enquiry
Credit file
Credit Reporting Privacy Code 2020
Credit score
Debt-to-income ratio (DTI)
Default
Disclosure statement
Early repayment fee
Equifax
Establishment fee
Experian
FAP (Financial Advice Provider)
Fixed interest rate
FMCA (Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013)
FSP (Financial Service Providers Register)
GAP insurance
Guarantor
Hardship
illion
Interest rate
Introducer fee
Licensed financial adviser
Loan term
Loan-to-value ratio (LVR)
Maximum APR
MBI (Mechanical Breakdown Insurance)
Open finance
Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR)
Pre-approval
Principal
Registered value
Repayment holiday
Responsible lending
Revert rate
Sale and purchase agreement
Secured loan
Self-contained certificate
Settlement
Total amount repayable
Unsecured loan
Variable interest rate
VOSA (Vehicle Sale and Offer Agreement)
Warrant of Fitness (WOF)