For the purposes of this chapter, the following words have the following meanings:

(1) ADMINISTRATOR. A person, other than an insurer or creditor, that performs administrative or operational functions pursuant to guaranteed asset protection waiver programs.

Terms Used In Alabama Code 8-37-2

  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • following: means next after. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • Lease: A contract transferring the use of property or occupancy of land, space, structures, or equipment in consideration of a payment (e.g., rent). Source: OCC
  • Obligation: An order placed, contract awarded, service received, or similar transaction during a given period that will require payments during the same or a future period.
  • Partnership: A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses.
  • person: includes a corporation as well as a natural person. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
(2) BORROWER. A debtor, retail buyer, or lessee, under a finance agreement.
(3) CREDITOR means any of the following:

a. The lender in a loan or credit transaction.
b. The lessor in a lease transaction.
c. Any retail seller of motor vehicles in a retail installment transaction.
d. The seller in commercial retail installment transactions.
e. The assignees of any of the foregoing to whom the credit or lease obligation is payable.
(4) FINANCE AGREEMENT. A loan, lease, or retail installment sales contract for the purchase or lease of a motor vehicle.
(5) FREE LOOK PERIOD. The period of time from the effective date of the GAP waiver until the date the borrower may cancel the GAP waiver without penalty, fees, or costs to the borrower. This period of time shall not be shorter than 30 days.
(6) GUARANTEED ASSET PROTECTION WAIVER or GAP WAIVER. A contractual agreement in which a creditor agrees , with or without a separate charge, to cancel or waive all or part of amounts due on a borrower’s finance agreement in the event of a total physical damage loss or unrecovered theft of the motor vehicle, which agreement shall be part of, or a separate addendum to, the finance agreement. A GAP waiver may also provide, with or without a separate charge, a benefit that waives an amount or provides a borrower with a credit towards the purchase of a replacement motor vehicle. The term also includes an excess wear and use waiver contractual agreement in which a creditor agrees, with or without a separate charge, to cancel or waive all or part of amounts that may become due under a motor vehicle lease agreement of a borrower as a result of excessive wear and use of a leased motor vehicle, including excess mileage, which agreement shall be part of, or a separate addendum to, the lease agreement.
(7) INSURER. An insurance company licensed, registered, or otherwise authorized to do business under the insurance laws of this state.
(8) MOTOR VEHICLE. Self-propelled or towed vehicles designed for personal or commercial use, including, but not limited to, automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, recreational vehicles, all terrain vehicles, snowmobiles, campers, boats, personal watercraft, and motorcycle, and boat, camper, and personal watercraft trailers.
(9) PERSON. An individual, company, association, organization, partnership, business trust, corporation, and every form of legal entity.