Here at Coupon Chief, we know that freedom really isn’t free. We’re thankful to veterans from every branch of the military, whether combat vets or stateside support. Everyone who raised a hand to declare allegiance to the flag and country, then made themselves available to defend it, is a hero in our estimation.
Welcome home to those who have finished their military obligation, and “Thank you” to those who still serve.
The aim of this guide is to show veterans of the United States military some of the many benefits extended to them from grateful businesses like ours. These discounts and special offers are but symbols of the great gratitude we feel for you and your sacrifice.
First, we’ll provide examples of organizations that serve as clearinghouses for discounts provided to veterans. Then, we’ll look at discounts available from individual businesses to give you an idea of how varied the possibilities really are. Finally, we’ll point out some additional sources of special interest.
Veterans can save on everything from airplane tickets, to cell phone services, refrigerators, and even burritos! Come on, vets, let’s get started. You deserve every penny of the savings and every bit of the gratitude you’ll find here.
First, a warning. While doing the research for this guide, we discovered that some of the sites offering to provide veterans discounts are not only cumbersome (loaded with pop-ups) but may even be a security risk. Be careful and never provide personal information unless you feel absolutely confident about doing so.
We’ve checked each of the websites listed below, and all seem to be above-ground, but use your own judgement in every situation. Chances are good that you’ll find all the information you need right here. One more note: This information was current when this guide was prepared, and we believe it is accurate. The only way to know for sure, though, is to go to the website or business listed to verify the discounts available.
Here are the top three clearinghouses we know of. The first is free, the second is a paid service, and the third is an e-commerce site only for vets.
Military.com provides info on benefits available to vets, keeps up with military-related news, helps veterans find jobs, provides information support to those on active duty, has an excellent video library, and covers discounts in a variety of categories.
Membership is open to current military personnel, military families, and veterans.
With 10 million members, it’s the “largest military and veteran membership organization” you’ll find. The site was launched in 1999 and became affiliated with Monster Worldwide (a leader in connecting people with jobs) in 2004.
Membership in Military.com is FREE!
The site includes a “Buddy Finder” and list of scheduled reunions, it provides updated data on benefits for vets, includes finance tips and VA home loan info, helps veterans build resumes, and more.
Those are just some of the categories of discounts available to U.S. military veterans you can access via Military.com. The bottom line on this website: Check it out!
The Veterans Advantage VetRewards Card provides a combination of financial, medical, and travel benefits estimated by the group to be worth $1,000 annually. It also serves to help protect the privacy of cardholders.
Membership is open to military veterans and retirees, active duty military, and the families of current or past service members.
The organization was founded in 2001 to advocate for veterans. The aim is to secure greater “respect, recognition, and rewards.”
Membership is currently tiered at $59.95 for one year, $149.95 for three years, or $199.95 for five years.
The Veterans Advantage CarePackage includes Travel Guard MEDEVAC coverage, prescription discounts, financial planning services, and a $5,000 accidental death and dismemberment policy.
Categories and examples of military discounts available include:
The Veterans Advantage Card has been issued over one million times. Many subscribers say the annual fee is easily offset by discounts – especially travel discounts – and the CarePackage benefits. Visit their benefits page to see whether a membership in Veterans Advantage is for you.
Many of the sites for veteran discounts ask for verification information that includes your social security number or a copy of your DD214. One of the few sites we felt good about providing sensitive data to is GovX. It has the reputation of being a hotspot for vets who want exclusive opportunities and discounts.
GovX is an e-commerce site based in California. It partners with the Air Force Association, the Marine Corps Association, and the National Association for Uniformed Services.
Membership is open to current and past military personnel as well as to “related government agencies.”
The organization was founded in 2011 to provide an online store for shopping by members only.
Membership is FREE.
GovX not only provides information about discounts, but enables members to purchase items from the GovX website.
Categories and examples of military discounts available include:
For those who aren’t comfortable with uploading personal documents to an e-commerce website, GovX offers a call-in option for veteran status verification. We didn’t take that route, but it would seem you still have to let go of some pretty important data in order to gain membership. Are the benefits worth it? You’ll have to take a look and decide for yourself. A GovX membership may be just what you’ve been looking for.
Veterans often miss out on saving money simply because they’re not aware the discount is available. The way to cut to the chase and get insider information on whether or not a business has a veterans discount is to go straight to the source and ask.
Here’s a sampling of the companies we found that regularly honor military service by providing discounted products and services. This is not a complete list, nor does it include the many stores that provide special benefits only on Veterans Day.
Our aim here is to point out the incredible number of businesses that offer discounts to veterans. Since discount programs can start and stop suddenly and options normally vary from store-to-store and state-to-state, you’ll have to check each time to claim any veterans special discounts available
Discounts for veterans are normally not publicized. Get in the habit of asking at checkout time. You’ll often be pleasantly surprised.
The identification needed varies from business to business. Sometimes, you just need to say you’re a veteran. Other situations require an identification card or a copy of your DD214. Many states now identify their veterans by including that information on the driver’s license.
We know that veterans often don’t feel like they should receive special treatment. Their service isn’t something they like to bring up and talk about. Benefits are there if you want to receive them, but it’s entirely your prerogative. We’re just pointing them out.
Find out which benefits your service may entitle you to. This is an excellent tool and it’s on a trusted site. While you’re there, check out American Legion benefits in general. You may want to join. It’s way worth it.
We mentioned this site in our top three picks, but there are some special sections worth pointing out:
Looking for discounts on auto insurance, life insurance, financial planning, and more? Don’t miss this granddaddy of all veterans’ benefits organizations. It’s a must-stop location.
This site provides information on which carmakers and car sellers are currently providing benefits. How up-to-date and extensive it is, we can’t say. If you’re in the market for an automobile, though, it sure couldn’t hurt to take a look.
This appears to be a pretty cool tool. The database seems fairly small right now, but should grow as the concept develops. You don’t need to
If you take away one thing from this guide, it’s to ask whether or not the business you’re patronizing provides discounts for veterans.
It’s a simple and valid question. Many businesses do, but few advertise the fact widely. It’s absolutely possible to save thousands of dollars per year on the products and services you regularly buy.
Let’s face it, without the sacrifices laid down by members of our armed forces, our country and our economy would not be as strong and free as it is currently. Veterans deserve every penny of the discounts available to them and every ounce of their country’s respect.
All we can say about this site is “Wow.” Thank you, Military.com!Categories and examples of military discounts available include: