Ameris Bank Auto Loan and CARFAX Policy: Used Car Rules (Oct 2026)

Ameris Bank does make used car loans, but it doesn't require a CARFAX report, doesn't post rates online and, according to its own loan page, wants you to apply in person at a branch in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina or South Carolina. As of Oct 19, 2026 the loan comes as a lump sum at a fixed rate with no prepayment penalty. So the vehicle history check is your job, and you should do it before you sit down with a loan officer.

I read through Ameris's auto and recreational loan page and its consumer advice articles on Oct 19, 2026. The bank's site blocks automated requests, so I can't link those pages here, and you'll find them on amerisbank.com under personal loans. What follows is what the pages actually say, plus the gaps you'll need to fill yourself.

What the Ameris auto loan covers

Ameris lumps cars in with its recreational lending. The page lists new and used cars, trucks and SUVs, plus motorcycles, motor homes and boats. The features it advertises are fairly plain.

• A lump-sum loan with a fixed interest rate.
• No prepayment penalty if you pay it off early.
• Funds available within one business day once approved.
• Application in person at a branch, bringing a driver's license and income information. Ameris says a representative follows up within one business day.

There is no rate table, no maximum vehicle age and no mileage cap on the page. Honestly, most of the regional banks we've written up work this way, and it means the real underwriting rules come out only when you talk to someone. Ask about age and mileage limits before you fall in love with a 12-year-old truck, because a bank that won't finance the car leaves you scrambling for dealer financing at worse terms.

A small thing that adds up is payment fees. Ameris lists a $3.95 fee for a one-time online payment and $15.95 for a payment made by phone. Set up autopay from the start and you won't pay either.

Where CARFAX fits in

The loan page doesn't mention CARFAX, AutoCheck or any history report. One of the bank's own advice articles on buying a car, posted in February 2024 and reviewed in April 2025, tells readers that if they have a specific vehicle in mind they can look up its maintenance history on CARFAX. That's advice to shoppers, and nothing on the loan page makes it a condition of approval. The car is the collateral, though, so ask the branch straight out whether it will finance a rebuilt or otherwise branded title, and pull the report and check the title brand before you apply.

Run the VIN through NMVTIS for salvage, junk and flood brands, then read the full CARFAX history or an AutoCheck for accidents and odometer readings. If a dealer hands you their own copy, our piece on whether a dealership's free AutoCheck is enough covers what those printouts tend to leave out.

What rate to expect

Since Ameris doesn't publish auto rates, the best benchmark is national data. Experian's figures for Q2 2026 put the average used car loan at 11.19% APR, against 6.35% for new. By credit tier the used averages were 6.29% for super prime, 8.81% for prime, 13.93% for near prime, 19.10% for subprime and 21.62% for deep subprime. If an Ameris quote lands well above your tier's average, that's a reason to shop it. Ameris's own credit score article from August 2026 cited Experian's earlier Q1 numbers, so the figures you see there will be a little older.

How it compares nearby

Ameris competes with several Southeast banks we've already covered. SouthState, Truist and Pinnacle each handle auto lending a little differently, and comparing their terms is worth an evening if you're borrowing more than a few thousand dollars. Get at least one outside quote, from a credit union or another bank, before the dealer's finance office makes you an offer.

Practical order of operations

Pick the car, pull the history report, check the title, then go to the branch with the VIN, the purchase price and your income paperwork. If the bank asks for anything about the car's condition, you'll already have it. Don't sign anything at the dealer that says your loan is "approved" until the Ameris funds are actually committed.

CarVins resells CARFAX and AutoCheck under license and isn't affiliated with CARFAX, AutoCheck, Experian or Ameris Bank. As of mid October 2026 we charged about $5.50 for a single report as a guest, about $4.50 as a member and about $6.75 for both reports, versus roughly $39.99 to $44.99 buying them retail. Confirm what you'll pay on the checkout screen.

Sources

• Ameris Bank, Auto and Recreational Loans page, amerisbank.com/personal/personal-loans/auto-recreational-loans, read Oct. 19, 2026 (blocks automated access)
• Ameris Bank, "Time to Buy a New Car?" and "What Credit Score Is Needed For A Low-Interest Auto Loan?", amerisbank.com, read Oct. 19, 2026
• Experian: Average Car Loan Interest Rates by Credit Score
• NMVTIS
• CARFAX Vehicle History Reports