Administration Agreement



 Exhibit 10.3 

 
  

 
 ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENT

 between 
 SANTANDER DRIVE AUTO RECEIVABLES TRUST 2012-1, 
 as Issuer,

 SANTANDER CONSUMER USA INC., 
 as Administrator 
 and 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, 
 as Indenture Trustee 
 Dated as of January 19, 2012 

 
  

 
  
  

					
		  		  	2012-1 Administration Agreement








 TABLE OF CONTENTS 

 

							
	 	  	 	  	Page	 
	 1.
	  	 Duties of the Administrator
	  	 	1	  
			
	 2.
	  	 Records
	  	 	3	  
			
	 3.
	  	 Compensation; Payment of Fees and Expenses
	  	 	3	  
			
	 4.
	  	 Independence of the Administrator
	  	 	3	  
			
	 5.
	  	 No Joint Venture
	  	 	3	  
			
	 6.
	  	 Other Activities of the Administrator
	  	 	4	  
			
	 7.
	  	 Representations and Warranties of the Administrator
	  	 	4	  
			
	 8.
	  	 Administrator Termination Events; Termination of the Administrator
	  	 	5	  
			
	 9.
	  	 Action upon Termination or Removal
	  	 	6	  
			
	 10.
	  	 Liens
	  	 	6	  
			
	 11.
	  	 Notices
	  	 	6	  
			
	 12.
	  	 Amendments
	  	 	6	  
			
	 13.
	  	 Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial
	  	 	8	  
			
	 14.
	  	 Headings
	  	 	8	  
			
	 15.
	  	 Counterparts
	  	 	9	  
			
	 16.
	  	 Severability of Provisions
	  	 	9	  
			
	 17.
	  	 Not Applicable to Santander Consumer in Other Capacities; Merger of Administrator
	  	 	9	  
			
	 18.
	  	 Benefits of the Administration Agreement
	  	 	9	  
			
	 19.
	  	 Assignment
	  	 	9	  
			
	 20.
	  	 Nonpetition Covenant
	  	 	10	  
			
	 21.
	  	 Limitation of Liability
	  	 	10	  


  

					
		  	-i-	  	2012-1 Administration Agreement









 THIS ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENT (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified and in effect
from time to time, this “Agreement”) dated as of January 19, 2012, is between SANTANDER DRIVE AUTO RECEIVABLES TRUST 2012-1, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Issuer”), SANTANDER CONSUMER USA INC., an Illinois
corporation, as administrator (“Santander Consumer” or the “Administrator”), and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association, as indenture trustee (the “Indenture
Trustee”). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned such terms in Appendix A to the Sale and Servicing Agreement dated as of January 19, 2012 (the “Sale and
Servicing Agreement”) by and between Santander Drive Auto Receivables LLC, as seller, the Issuer, the Administrator, as servicer, and the Indenture Trustee. 
 W I T N E S S E T H : 
 WHEREAS, Santander Drive Auto Receivables LLC (the
“Seller”) and U.S. Bank Trust National Association (the “Owner Trustee”) have entered into the Second Amended and Restated Trust Agreement dated as of January 19, 2012 (the “Trust Agreement”).

 WHEREAS, the Issuer has issued the Notes pursuant to the Indenture and has entered into certain agreements in connection
therewith, including, (i) the Sale and Servicing Agreement, (ii) the Indenture and (iii) the Note Depository Agreement (the Trust Agreement and each of the agreements referred to in clauses (i) through
(iii) are referred to herein collectively as the “Issuer Documents”); 
 WHEREAS, to secure payment
of the Notes, the Issuer has pledged the Collateral to the Indenture Trustee pursuant to the Indenture; 
 WHEREAS, pursuant to
the Issuer Documents, the Issuer and the Owner Trustee are required to perform certain duties; 
 WHEREAS, the Issuer and the
Owner Trustee desire to have the Administrator perform certain of the duties of the Issuer and the Owner Trustee (in its capacity as owner trustee under the Trust Agreement), and to provide such additional services consistent with this Agreement and
the Issuer Documents as the Issuer may from time to time request; 
 WHEREAS, the Administrator has the capacity to provide the
services required hereby and is willing to perform such services for the Issuer and the Owner Trustee on the terms set forth herein; 
 NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual terms and covenants contained herein, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties agree
as follows: 
 1. Duties of the Administrator. 

(a) Duties with Respect to the Issuer Documents. The Administrator shall perform all of its duties as Administrator
specifically enumerated herein and in the Issuer Documents and the duties and obligations of the Issuer and the Owner Trustee (in its capacity as owner trustee under the Trust Agreement) under the Issuer Documents and no 

 

					
		  		  	2012-1 Administration Agreement








 
additional duties shall be read to be included herein; provided, however, except as otherwise provided in the Issuer Documents, that the Administrator shall have no obligation to
make any payment required to be made by the Issuer under any Issuer Document; provided, further, that the Administrator shall have no obligation, and the Owner Trustee shall be required to fully perform its duties, with respect to the
obligations of the Owner Trustee under Sections 11.9, 11.13, 11.14 and 11.15 of the Trust Agreement and to otherwise comply with the requirements of the Owner Trustee pursuant to or related to Regulation AB. In addition,
the Administrator shall consult with the Issuer and the Owner Trustee regarding its duties and obligations under the Issuer Documents. The Administrator shall monitor the performance of the Issuer and the Owner Trustee and shall advise the Issuer
and the Owner Trustee when action is necessary to comply with the Issuer’s and the Owner Trustee’s duties and obligations under the Issuer Documents. The Administrator shall perform such calculations, and shall prepare for execution by the
Issuer or shall cause the preparation by other appropriate persons of all such documents, reports, filings, instruments, certificates, notices and opinions as it shall be the duty of the Issuer and the Owner Trustee (in its capacity as owner
trustee) to prepare, file or deliver pursuant to the Issuer Documents. In furtherance of the foregoing, the Administrator shall take all appropriate action that is the duty of the Issuer and the Owner Trustee (in its capacity as owner trustee) to
take pursuant to the Issuer Documents, and shall prepare, execute, file and deliver on behalf of the Issuer all such documents, reports, filings, instruments, certificates, notices and opinions as it shall be the duty of the Issuer to prepare, file
or deliver pursuant to the Issuer Documents or otherwise by law. 
 (b) Notices to Rating Agencies. The
Administrator shall give notice to each Rating Agency of (i) any merger or consolidation of the Owner Trustee pursuant to Section 10.4 of the Trust Agreement; (ii) any merger or consolidation of the Indenture Trustee pursuant to
Section 6.9 of the Indenture; (iii) any resignation or removal of the Indenture Trustee pursuant to Section 6.8 of the Indenture; (iv) any Default or Event of Default of which it has been provided notice pursuant to
Section 6.5 of the Indenture; (v) the termination of, and/or appointment of a successor to, the Servicer pursuant to Section 7.1 of the Sale and Servicing Agreement; and (vi) any supplemental indenture pursuant to
Section 9.1 or 9.2 of the Indenture; which notice shall be given, in the case of each of (i) through (vi), promptly upon the Administrator being notified thereof by the Owner Trustee, the Indenture Trustee or the Servicer, as
applicable. 
 (c) No Action by Administrator. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement,
the Administrator shall not be obligated to, and shall not, take any action that the Issuer directs the Administrator not to take or which would result in a violation or breach of the Issuer’s covenants, agreements or obligations under any of
the Issuer Documents. 
 (d) Non-Ministerial Matters; Exceptions to Administrator Duties. 

(i) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, with respect to matters that in the reasonable judgment of
the Administrator are non-ministerial, the Administrator shall not take any action unless, within a reasonable time before the taking of such action, the Administrator shall have notified the Issuer of the proposed action and the Issuer shall not
have withheld consent or provided an alternative direction. For the purpose of the preceding sentence, “non-ministerial matters” shall include, without limitation: 

(A) the initiation of any claim or lawsuit by the Issuer and the compromise of any action, claim or lawsuit brought by or
against the Issuer; 

  

					
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 (B) the appointment of successor Note Registrars, successor Paying Agents,
successor Indenture Trustees, a successor Administrator or successor Servicers, or the consent to the assignment by the Note Registrar, Paying Agent or Indenture Trustee of its obligations under the Indenture; and 

(C) the removal of the Indenture Trustee. 

(ii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Administrator shall not be obligated to, and shall
not, (x) make any payments to the Noteholders under the Transaction Documents, (y) except as provided in the Transaction Documents, sell the Trust Estate or (z) take any other action that the Issuer directs the Administrator not to
take on its behalf. 
 2. Records. The Administrator shall maintain appropriate books of account and records relating to
services performed hereunder, which books of account and records shall be accessible for inspection by the Issuer, the Seller and the Indenture Trustee at any time during normal business hours. 

3. Compensation; Payment of Fees and Expenses. As compensation for the performance of the Administrator’s obligations under
this Agreement, the Administrator shall be entitled to receive $2,500 annually, which shall be solely an obligation of the Servicer; provided, however, notwithstanding the foregoing, such compensation shall in no event exceed the
Servicing Fee for the related annual period. The Administrator shall pay all expenses incurred by it in connection with its activities hereunder. 
 4. Independence of the Administrator. For all purposes of this Agreement, the Administrator shall be an independent contractor and shall not be subject to the supervision of the Issuer with respect
to the manner in which it accomplishes the performance of its obligations hereunder. Unless expressly authorized by the Issuer, the Administrator shall have no authority to act for or to represent the Issuer in any way (other than as permitted
hereunder) and shall not otherwise be deemed an agent of the Issuer. 
 5. No Joint Venture. Nothing contained in this
Agreement (i) shall constitute the Administrator and the Issuer as members of any partnership, joint venture, association, syndicate, unincorporated business or other separate entity, (ii) shall be construed to impose any liability as such
on the Administrator or the Issuer or (iii) shall be deemed to confer on the Administrator or the Issuer any express, implied or apparent authority to incur any obligation or liability on behalf of the other. 

  

					
		  	3	  	2012-1 Administration Agreement









 6. Other Activities of the Administrator. Nothing herein shall prevent the
Administrator or its Affiliates from engaging in other businesses or, in its sole discretion, from acting in a similar capacity as an Administrator for any other Person even though such Person may engage in business activities similar to those of
the Issuer, the Owner Trustee or the Indenture Trustee. 
 7. Representations and Warranties of the Administrator. The
Administrator represents and warrants to the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee as follows: 
 (a) Existence and
Power. The Administrator is a corporation validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its state of organization and has, in all material respects, full power and authority to own its assets and operate its business as presently owned
or operated, and to execute, deliver and to perform its obligations under the Transaction Documents to which it is a party. The Administrator has obtained all necessary licenses and approvals in each jurisdiction where the failure to do so would
materially and adversely affect the ability of the Administrator to perform its obligations under the Transaction Documents or affect the enforceability or collectibility of the Receivables or any other part of the Collateral. 

(b) Authorization and No Contravention. The execution, delivery and performance by the Administrator of the
Transaction Documents to which it is a party have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Administrator and do not contravene or constitute a default under (i) any applicable law, rule or regulation, (ii) its
organizational documents or (iii) any material agreement or instrument to which the Administrator is a party by which its properties are bound (other than violations of such laws, rules, regulations or agreements which do not affect the
legality, validity or enforceability of any of such agreements and which, individually or in the aggregate, would not materially and adversely affect the transactions contemplated by, or the Administrator’s ability to perform its obligations
under, the Transaction Documents). 
 (c) No Consent Required. No approval or authorization by, or filing
with, any Governmental Authority is required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by the Administrator of any Transaction Document other than (i) UCC filings, (ii) approvals and authorizations that have previously
been obtained and filings that have previously been made and (iii) approvals, authorizations or filings which, if not obtained or made, would not have a material adverse effect on the enforceability or collectibility of the Receivables or any
other part of the Collateral or would not materially and adversely affect the ability of the Administrator to perform its obligations under the Transaction Documents. 

(d) Binding Effect. Each Transaction Document to which the Administrator is a party constitutes the legal, valid
and binding obligation of the Administrator enforceable against the Administrator in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, receivership,
conservatorship or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and, if applicable, the rights of creditors of corporations from time to time in effect or by general principles of equity. 

  

					
		  	4	  	2012-1 Administration Agreement









 8. Administrator Termination Events; Termination of the Administrator. 

(a) Subject to clauses (d) and (e) below, the Administrator may resign its duties hereunder by
providing the Issuer with at least sixty (60) days’ prior written notice. 
 (b) Subject to
Section 3.15 of the Indenture, the Issuer may remove the Administrator without cause by providing the Administrator with at least sixty (60) days’ prior written notice. 

(c) The occurrence of any one of the following events (each, an “Administrator Termination Event”) shall
also entitle the Issuer, subject to Section 19 hereof, to terminate and replace the Administrator: 

(i) any failure by the Administrator to deliver or cause to be delivered any required payment to the Indenture Trustee for
distribution to the Noteholders, which failure continues unremedied for five Business Days after discovery thereof by a Responsible Officer of the Administrator or receipt by the Administrator of written notice thereof from the Indenture Trustee or
Noteholders evidencing at least 25% of the Note Balance of the Outstanding Notes, voting together as a single class; 
 (ii) any failure by the Administrator to duly observe or perform in any respect any other of its covenants or agreements in this Agreement, which failure materially and adversely affects the rights of the
Issuer or the Noteholders, and which continues unremedied for 90 days after discovery thereof by a Responsible Officer of the Administrator or receipt by the Administrator of written notice thereof from the Indenture Trustee or Noteholders
evidencing a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Notes, voting together as a single class; or 
 (iii) the Administrator suffers a Bankruptcy Event; 
 provided,
however, that (A) if any delay or failure of performance referred to under clause (c)(i) above shall have been caused by force majeure or other similar occurrence, the five Business Day grace period referred to in such clause
(c)(i) shall be extended for an additional 60 calendar days and (b) if any delay or failure of performance referred to under clause (c)(ii) above shall have been caused by force majeure or other similar occurrence, the 90 day grace
period referred to in such clause (c)(ii) shall be extended for an additional 60 calendar days. The existence or occurrence of any “material instance of noncompliance” (within the meaning of Item 1122 of Regulation AB) shall
not create any presumption that any event in clause (i) or (ii) above has occurred. 
 (d) If an
Administrator Termination Event shall have occurred, the Issuer may, subject to Section 19 hereof, by notice given to the Administrator and the Owner Trustee, terminate all or a portion of the rights and powers of the Administrator under
this Agreement, including the rights of the Administrator to receive the annual fee for services hereunder for all periods following such termination; provided, however that 

  

					
		  	5	  	2012-1 Administration Agreement









 
such termination shall not become effective until such time as the Issuer, subject to Section 19 hereof, shall have appointed a successor Administrator in the manner set forth below.
Upon any such termination, all rights, powers, duties and responsibilities of the Administrator under this Agreement shall vest in and be assumed by any successor Administrator appointed by the Issuer, subject to Section 19 hereof,
pursuant to a management agreement between the Issuer and such successor Administrator, containing substantially the same provisions as this Agreement (including with respect to the compensation of such successor Administrator), and the successor
Administrator is hereby irrevocably authorized and empowered to execute and deliver, on behalf of the Administrator, as attorney-in-fact or otherwise, all documents and other instruments, and to do or accomplish all other acts or things necessary or
appropriate to effect such vesting and assumption. Further, in such event, the Administrator shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect the orderly and efficient transfer of the administration of the Issuer to the new Administrator.

 (e) The Issuer, subject to Section 19 hereof, may waive in writing any Administrator Termination
Event by the Administrator in the performance of its obligations hereunder and its consequences. Upon any such waiver of a past Administrator Termination Event, such Administrator Termination Event shall cease to exist, and any Administrator
Termination Event arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been remedied for every purpose of this Agreement. No such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Administrator Termination Event or impair any right consequent thereon. 

9. Action upon Termination or Removal. Promptly upon the effective date of termination of this Agreement pursuant to
Section 8, or the removal of the Administrator pursuant to Section 8, the Administrator shall be entitled to be paid by the Servicer all fees accruing to it to the date of such termination or removal. 

10. Liens. The Administrator will not directly or indirectly create, allow or suffer to exist any Lien on the Collateral other
than Permitted Liens. 
 11. Notices. All demands, notices and communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be
delivered or mailed by registered or certified first class United States mail, postage prepaid, hand delivery, prepaid courier service, or by facsimile or by electronic transmission, and addressed in each case as specified on Schedule II to
the Sale and Servicing Agreement or at such other address as shall be designated by any of the specified addressees in a written notice to the other parties hereto. Delivery shall occur only upon receipt or reported tender of such communication by
an officer of the recipient entitled to receive such notices located at the address of such recipient for notices hereunder. 

12. Amendments. 
 (a) Any term or provision of this Agreement may be amended by the Administrator without the consent of the Indenture Trustee, any Noteholder, the Issuer, the Owner Trustee or any other Person subject to
the satisfaction of one of the following conditions: 
 (i) the Administrator delivers an Opinion of Counsel to
the Indenture Trustee to the effect that such amendment will not materially and adversely affect the interests of the Noteholders; or 

  

					
		  	6	  	2012-1 Administration Agreement









 (ii) the Rating Agency Condition is satisfied with respect to such amendment
and the Administrator notifies the Indenture Trustee in writing that the Rating Agency Condition is satisfied with respect to such amendment. 
 (b) This Agreement may also be amended from time to time by the Issuer, the Administrator and the Indenture Trustee, with the consent of the Holders of Notes evidencing not less than a majority of the
aggregate principal amount of the Controlling Class, for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Agreement or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Noteholders. It will
not be necessary for the consent of Noteholders to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment or consent, but it will be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof. The manner of obtaining such consents (and any other
consents of Noteholders provided for in this Agreement) and of evidencing the authorization of the execution thereof by Noteholders will be subject to such reasonable requirements as the Indenture Trustee may prescribe, including the establishment
of record dates pursuant to the Note Depository Agreement. 
 (c) Any term or provision of this Agreement may
also be amended from time to time by the Administrator for the purpose of conforming the terms of this Agreement to the description thereof in the Prospectus or an offering memorandum with respect to the Non-Investment Grade Notes without the
consent of the Indenture Trustee, any Noteholder, the Issuer, the Owner Trustee or any other Person, provided, however, the Administrator shall provide written notification of the substance of such amendment to the Issuer, the Owner
Trustee and the Indenture Trustee and promptly after the execution of any such amendment, the Administrator shall furnish a copy of such amendment to the Issuer, the Owner Trustee and the Indenture Trustee. 

(d) Prior to the execution of any amendment pursuant to this Section 12, the Administrator shall provide
written notification of the substance of such amendment to each Rating Agency and the Owner Trustee; and promptly after the execution of any such amendment, the Administrator shall furnish a copy of such amendment to each Rating Agency, the Owner
Trustee and the Indenture Trustee; provided, that no amendment pursuant to this Section 12 shall be effective which affects the rights, protections or duties of the Indenture Trustee or the Owner Trustee without the prior written
consent of such Person (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed). 
 (e) Prior to the
execution of any amendment to this Agreement, the Owner Trustee and the Indenture Trustee shall be entitled to receive and conclusively rely upon an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amendment is authorized or permitted by this
Agreement and that all conditions precedent to the execution and delivery of such amendment have been satisfied. The Owner Trustee and the Indenture Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such amendment which adversely affects
the Owner Trustee’s or the Indenture Trustee’s, as applicable, own rights, duties or immunities under this Agreement. 

  

					
		  	7	  	2012-1 Administration Agreement









 13. Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial. 

(a) THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL, SUBSTANTIVE LAWS OF THE STATE OF
NEW YORK WITHOUT REFERENCE TO THE RULES THEREOF RELATING TO CONFLICTS OF LAWS, OTHER THAN SECTIONS 5-1401 AND 5-1402 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW, AND THE OBLIGATIONS, RIGHTS AND REMEDIES OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE DETERMINED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH SUCH LAWS. 
 (b) Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally:

 (i) submits for itself and its property in any legal action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any
documents executed and delivered in connection herewith, or for recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect thereof, to the nonexclusive general jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York, the courts of the United States of
America for the Southern District of New York and appellate courts from any thereof; 
 (ii) consents that
any such action or proceeding may be brought and maintained in such courts and waives any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the venue of such action or proceeding in any such court or that such action or proceeding was brought in an
inconvenient court and agrees not to plead or claim the same; 
 (iii) agrees that service of process in
any such action or proceeding may be effected by mailing a copy thereof by registered or certified mail (or any substantially similar form of mail), postage prepaid, to such Person at its address determined in accordance with Section 11
of this Agreement; 
 (iv) agrees that nothing herein shall affect the right to effect service of process
in any other manner permitted by law or shall limit the right to sue in any other jurisdiction; and 
 (v)
to the extent permitted by applicable law, each party hereto irrevocably waives all right of trial by jury in any action, proceeding or counterclaim based on, or arising out of, under or in connection with this Agreement, any other Transaction
Document, or any matter arising hereunder or thereunder. 
 14. Headings. The section headings hereof have been
inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not be construed to affect the meaning, construction or effect of this Agreement. 

  

					
		  	8	  	2012-1 Administration Agreement









 15. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each
of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all of such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. 
 16. Severability of Provisions. If any one or more of the covenants, agreements, provisions or terms of this Agreement shall be for any reason whatsoever held invalid, then such covenants,
agreements, provisions or terms shall be deemed severable from the remaining covenants, agreements, provisions or terms of this Agreement and shall in no way affect the validity or enforceability of the other provisions of this Agreement.

 17. Not Applicable to Santander Consumer in Other Capacities; Merger of Administrator. 

(a) Nothing in this Agreement shall affect any obligation Santander Consumer may have in any other capacity. 

(b) Any entity (i) into which the Administrator may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, to
which it may sell or transfer its business and assets as a whole or substantially as a whole or any entity resulting from any merger, sale, transfer, conversion or consolidation to which the Administrator shall be a party, or any entity succeeding
to the business of the Administrator or (ii) of which more than 50% of the voting stock or voting power and 50% or more of the economic equity is owned directly or indirectly by Banco Santander, S.A. and which executes an agreement of
assumption to perform every obligation of the Administrator under this Agreement, shall be the successor to the Administrator under this Agreement, in each case, without the execution or filing of any paper of any further act on the part of any of
the parties hereto, anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding. 
 18. Benefits of the Administration Agreement.
Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall give to any Person other than the parties hereto and their successors hereunder, the Owner Trustee, any separate trustee or co-trustee appointed under Section 6.10 of the Indenture
and the Noteholders, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, the Owner Trustee is a third party beneficiary of this Agreement and is entitled to the rights and benefits hereunder
and may enforce the provisions hereof as if it were a party hereto. 
 19. Assignment. Each party hereto hereby
acknowledges and consents to the mortgage, pledge, assignment and grant of a security interest by the Issuer to the Indenture Trustee pursuant to the Indenture for the benefit of the Noteholders of all of the Issuer’s rights under this
Agreement. In addition, the Administrator hereby acknowledges and agrees that for so long as any Notes are outstanding, the Indenture Trustee will have the right to exercise all waivers and consents, rights, remedies, powers, privileges and claims
of the Issuer under this Agreement in the event the Issuer shall fail to exercise the same. 

  

					
		  	9	  	2012-1 Administration Agreement









 20. Nonpetition Covenant. Each party hereto agrees that, prior to the date which is
one year and one day after payment in full of all obligations of each Bankruptcy Remote Party in respect of all securities issued by any Bankruptcy Remote Party (i) such party shall not authorize any Bankruptcy Remote Party to commence a
voluntary winding-up or other voluntary case or other proceeding seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief with respect to such Bankruptcy Remote Party or its debts under any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in
effect in any jurisdiction or seeking the appointment of an administrator, a trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or other similar official with respect to such Bankruptcy Remote Party or any substantial part of its property or to consent to any
such relief or to the appointment of or taking possession by any such official in an involuntary case or other proceeding commenced against such Bankruptcy Remote Party, or to make a general assignment for the benefit of, its creditors generally,
any party hereto or any other creditor of such Bankruptcy Remote Party, and (ii) such party shall not commence, join with any other Person in commencing or institute with any other Person, any proceeding against such Bankruptcy Remote Party
under any bankruptcy, reorganization, liquidation or insolvency law or statute now or hereafter in effect in any jurisdiction. 

21. Limitation of Liability. It is expressly understood and agreed by the parties that (a) this document is executed and
delivered by U.S. Bank Trust National Association, not individually or personally, but solely as Owner Trustee of the Issuer, in the exercise of the powers and authority conferred and vested in it, pursuant to the Trust Agreement, (b) each of
the representations, warranties, covenants, undertakings and agreements herein made on the part of the Issuer is made and intended not as personal representations, warranties, covenants undertakings and agreements by U.S. Bank Trust National
Association but is made and intended for the purpose for binding only the Issuer, (c) nothing herein contained shall be construed as creating any liability on U.S. Bank Trust National Association, individually or personally, to perform any
covenant either expressed or implied contained herein, all such liability, if any, being expressly waived by the parties hereto and by any person claiming by, through or under the parties hereto, and (d) under no circumstances shall U.S. Bank
Trust National Association be personally liable for the payment of any indebtedness or expenses of the Issuer or be liable for the breach or failure of any obligation, representation, warranty or covenant made or undertaken by the Issuer under this
Agreement or any other related documents. 
 [SIGNATURES ON NEXT PAGE] 

  

					
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 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered
as of the day and year first above written. 
  

			
	SANTANDER DRIVE AUTO RECEIVABLES TRUST 2012-1
	
	By: U.S. Bank Trust National Association, not in its individual capacity but solely as Owner Trustee
		
	By:	 	/s/ Patricia M. Child
	Name:	 	Patricia M. Child
	Title:	 	Vice President



  

					
		  	S-1	  	2012-1 Administration Agreement









 
			
	SANTANDER CONSUMER USA INC.,
as Administrator
		
	By:	 	/s/ Mark McCastlain
	Name:	 	Mark McCastlain
	Title:	 	Treasurer



  

					
		  	S-2	  	2012-1 Administration Agreement









 
			
	WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Indenture Trustee
		
	By:	 	/s/ Marianna C. Stershic
	Name:	 	Marianna C. Stershic
	Title:	 	Vice President



  

					
		  	S-3	  	2012-1 Administration Agreement









 Joinder of Servicer: 
 SANTANDER CONSUMER USA INC., as Servicer, joins in this Agreement solely for purposes of Section 3. 

 

			
	SANTANDER CONSUMER USA INC.,
as Servicer
		
	By:	 	/s/ Mark McCastlain
	Name:	 	Mark McCastlain
	Title:	 	Treasurer



  

					
		  	S-4	  	2012-1 Administration Agreement