(a) A retail seller of motor vehicles may charge, contract for, receive or collect a finance charge expressed as an annual percentage rate on any retail installment contract covering the retail sale of a motor vehicle in this state, which charge shall not exceed the rates indicated for the respective classifications of motor vehicles as follows: (1) On sales made prior to October 1, 1985, of (A) new motor vehicles, eighteen per cent; (B) used motor vehicles of a model designated by the manufacturer by a year not more than three years prior to the year in which the sale is made, nineteen and one-quarter per cent; and (C) used motor vehicles of a model designated by the manufacturer by a year more than three years prior to the year in which the sale is made, twenty-one and one-half per cent; (2) on sales made on or after October 1, 1985, and prior to October 1, 1987, (A) new motor vehicles, sixteen per cent; (B) used motor vehicles of a model designated by the manufacturer by a year not more than two years prior to the year in which the sale is made, eighteen per cent; (C) used motor vehicles of a model designated by the manufacturer by a year more than two years prior to the year in which the sale is made, twenty per cent; and (3) on sales made on or after October 1, 1987, (A) new motor vehicles, fifteen per cent; (B) used motor vehicles of a model designated by the manufacturer by a year not more than two years prior to the year in which the sale is made, seventeen per cent; (C) used motor vehicles of a model designated by the manufacturer by a year more than two years prior to the year in which the sale is made, nineteen per cent.

Terms Used In Connecticut General Statutes 36a-772

  • Annual percentage rate: The cost of credit at a yearly rate. It is calculated in a standard way, taking the average compound interest rate over the term of the loan so borrowers can compare loans. Lenders are required by law to disclose a card account's APR. Source: FDIC
  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Finance charge: The total cost of credit a customer must pay on a consumer loan, including interest. The Truth in Lending Act requires disclosure of the finance charge. Source: OCC
  • Interest rate: The amount paid by a borrower to a lender in exchange for the use of the lender's money for a certain period of time. Interest is paid on loans or on debt instruments, such as notes or bonds, either at regular intervals or as part of a lump sum payment when the issue matures. Source: OCC
  • Minimum finance charge: The minimum, or fixed, finance charge that will be imposed during a billing cycle. A minimum finance charge usually applies only when a finance charge is imposed, that is, when you carry over a balance. Source: Federal Reserve
  • month: means a calendar month, and the word "year" means a calendar year, unless otherwise expressed. See Connecticut General Statutes 1-1
  • State: means any state of the United States, the District of Columbia, any territory of the United States, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the trust territory of the Pacific Islands, the Virgin Islands and the Northern Mariana Islands. See Connecticut General Statutes 36a-2

(b) A retail seller of goods other than motor vehicles may charge, contract for, receive or collect a finance charge on any retail installment contract made on or after July 1, 1981, covering the retail sale of goods other than motor vehicles in this state, which charge shall not exceed an annual percentage rate of twenty-one per cent on sales made prior to October 1, 1985, nineteen per cent on sales made on or after October 1, 1985, and prior to October 1, 1987, and eighteen per cent on sales made on or after October 1, 1987.

(c) The finance charge under subsections (a) and (b) of this section shall be computed on the principal amount financed as determined under sections 36a-675 to 36a-686, inclusive, and the regulations adopted under said sections. On contracts providing for installment payments extending for a period which is less than or greater than one year, the finance charge shall be computed proportionately. The finance charge may be computed on the basis of a full month for any fractional month period in excess of ten days. A minimum finance charge of fifteen dollars may be charged on any retail installment contract in which the finance charge, when computed at the rates indicated, results in a total charge of less than that amount. Nothing contained in sections 36a-770 to 36a-788, inclusive, 42-100b and 42-100c shall be construed to prohibit the computation of the interest component of the finance charge by application of an interest rate to the actual balance of such principal amount financed as may be outstanding from time to time.