Glossary

Ally Buyer's Choice

Ally Buyer's Choice is currently only available for eligible GM and Chrysler brand vehicles at dealerships in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and West Virginia. Additional markets coming soon. Please check with your dealership for availability.

Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

This is the annual cost of your financing plan; on a loan, this is often called an "interest rate." For example, an APR of 12% is equal to about 1% per month.

Auto Finance Customers

Call us to make a payment on your vehicle or get information about your account.

Auto Hours of Operation

Mon – Fri, 8 am – 11 pm ET
Saturday 9 am – 7 pm ET

Auto Pay

A convenient way to have your monthly Ally auto payment automatically withdrawn from your checking or savings account.

Closed-end lease

With this type of SmartLease, your business assumes maintenance of the leased vehicle but isn't responsible for the residual value when you return the vehicle at the end of the lease.

Commercial Services Hours of Operation

Monday-Friday 7:30 AM - 7:30 PM CT
Saturday 7:30 AM - 6:00 PM CT
Sunday CLOSED

Contract end date

If you don't prepay on the Special Prepayment Date by selling the vehicle to Ally, this date will mark the end of your Ally Buyer’s Choice contract term.

Disposal Fee

This is a fee for selling a vehicle when you return it at the end of a ComTRAC lease. The fee is $250 (or $500 for medium-duty vehicles).

Essential government work

Essential government work includes police and fire department activities, school bus service, ambulance service, snow removal work, Department of Transportation travel, and Department of Public work activities.

Essential use vehicles

Includes all vehicles that a municipality uses to maintain day-to-day governmental operations.

FICO® Score

A credit score developed by FICO and used by financial institutions when deciding whether to lend money or issue credit.

Finance charge

A fee for the cost of credit, or how much it costs to finance. The fee is established at the time the financing agreement or contract is signed.

GM or Chrysler Group LLC dealer

Includes GM brand family vehicles: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC and Chrysler Group LLC brand family vehicles: Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep®, and Ram.

GM, Chrysler, Mitsubishi, Maserati, Aston Martin or Thor Industries dealer

Includes GM brand family vehicles: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC; Chrysler Group brand family vehicles: Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep®, and Ram; Mitsubishi vehicles; Maserati vehicles; Aston Martin vehicles; and recreation vehicles manufactured by Thor Industries.

Guarantor

An individual who agrees to sign the financing agreement and pay another’s obligations if the buyer/lessee or cobuyer/colessee default on the purchase contract or lease.

Lessee

This is the person or company who has possession and use of the leased vehicle.

Lessor

This is the person or company that actually owns the leased vehicle. Under a SmartLease agreement the dealer that enters into the lease with the lessee is the original lessor. After assignment of the lease, Ally is the lessor.

Light-duty trucks

This includes trucks weighing up to 10,000 lbs.

Medium-duty trucks

This includes trucks weighing between 10,001 and 26,000 lbs.

Monthly payment

The amount you've agreed to pay on your purchased or leased vehicle every month.

Online application

An application for vehicle financing or leasing that you complete on our website.

Online statements

An account statement you can access and view safely online.

Open-end lease

With an open-end lease, your business is responsible for the vehicle’s residual value at the end of the lease.

Payment terms

The amount of time you can take to pay off your vehicle financing or how long you’ll have to drive your leased vehicle.

Predetermined price

This is the price set to sell the vehicle to Ally on the Special Prepayment Date. Determined when you sign your Ally Buyer’s Choice (ABC) contract rider, the price is subject to a disposition fee and any excess vehicle wear and mileage charges. See your contract for details.

Rental or Alternate Transportation

If you have a breakdown and need transportation, we'll help cover the cost for a rental vehicle, rideshare, or public transportation, whichever you prefer. Some limitations apply. Your mechanic's diagnosis determines your coverage eligibility.

Residual value

Determined before the lease begins, this is the anticipated value of the vehicle at the end of the lease term.

Roadside Assistance

Roadside assistance includes:
  • Flat tire change
  • Towing
  • Battery jump
  • Locksmith/key service (not available in Kansas)
  • Out-of-gas fuel delivery
  • 24/7 service anywhere in the US and Canada

Special Prepayment Date

This is a date at 48 or 60 months of the Ally Buyer's Choice term when the buyer can either prepay by selling the vehicle to Ally at a predetermined price or continue making scheduled payments.

Trip Interruption

If you're stranded on a trip due to a breakdown, we cover your overnight hotel and restaurant expenses. Some limitations apply and this coverage is not available in Kansas.

Up-fits

These are additions to your vehicle for work-related purposes, accessibility or otherwise. For leased vehicles, Ally allows additions to your vehicle’s cab and chassis package as long as installation or removal doesn’t damage or materially alter the vehicle.

Up-fitter

Someone – a person or company – that specializes in modifying vehicles by adding items like toolboxes, storage drawers, etc.

Wear Square

A tool Ally makes available at no extra charge that helps you to measure tires, dings, scratches, and chips to see if you have excess wear on your leased vehicle. You can download the Wear Square tool including instructions on our website. We also mail customers a Wear Square near the end of a vehicle contract in which wear-and-tear charges may be assessed.

What is my username?

Ally, GMAC, Nuvell, National and ASFS customers

Your username may be your email address if you enrolled before January 29, 2011. Otherwise, it is the username you created when you enrolled with Ally.

Forgot your username? Just select the "Forgot your username" link on this page and we'll help you remember it.

What is your username?

This is your email address if you enrolled prior to January 29, 2011.

Where do I enter my password?

After you enter your Username, you’ll be able to enter your Password on the next page.