Military Discounts

How military discounts actually work

Most retailers and service providers offer two kinds of military pricing: an advertised in-store discount verified at point-of-sale with a Common Access Card (CAC), Uniformed Services ID, VA Health ID Card (VHIC), or Veteran Designation on a state driver's license; and an online verified discount validated through ID.me, GovX, SheerID, or VerifyPass. Most chain retailers (Home Depot, Lowe's, Target, Walmart, Best Buy, Apple, Nike, Adidas, Lululemon, Columbia, Under Armour) require online verification first — saving the verified status to your account so subsequent purchases don't require re-validation.

Eligibility varies by category. Some discounts are limited to active duty only (commissary access, MWR Information Tickets & Travel rates, Space-A travel). Some extend to active + reserve + retiree with a valid DoD ID (Military Star Card, USAA, Navy Federal Credit Union). The largest pool of public discounts also include veterans (any honorable discharge), Gold Star families, and in some cases military spouses with a Power of Attorney. The directory below tags each discount with its eligibility tier so there's no guessing at the register.

Travel and lodging

Major airlines do not offer published military fares (the era of fly-cheaper-with-orders ended around 2010), but every legacy carrier — American, Delta, United, Alaska, JetBlue, Southwest — offers free or expanded checked-bag allowances for service members on PCS or TDY orders. Active-duty members traveling on official orders are exempt from baggage fees up to specified weights and piece counts under DoD-airline agreements. Hotel chains (Hilton, Marriott, Hyatt, IHG, Choice, Wyndham, Best Western) publish a discounted "government / military rate" that's typically 10–25% below the best available rate; the Hilton "Military & Government" rate is honored at most properties for active duty, retirees, DoD civilians, reservists, and National Guard members on orders. Car rental companies (Hertz, Enterprise, Avis, Budget, National, Alamo, Sixt) offer 10–25% military discounts with USAA, NFCU, or DoD verification, and waive the under-25 underage-driver fee for active-duty members.

Phones, internet, and connectivity

All four major US wireless carriers — Verizon (Verizon Military), T-Mobile (Magenta Military), AT&T (Signature), and US Cellular — offer dedicated military pricing on unlimited plans. Discounts compound for multi-line accounts and can include free lines, free hotspot data, and waived activation fees. Spectrum, Xfinity, and Cox cable internet offer reduced pricing for verified military households. The Lifeline and Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) eligibility extended to many junior enlisted; though the federal ACP funding lapsed in 2024, several state-level Lifeline programs continue and are categorized in this directory.

Retail, dining, and household

On-base shopping (commissary and exchange) is one of the largest "discounts" available — the commissary operates near cost plus a 5% surcharge, and exchange (AAFES, NEX, MCX, CGX) prices are tax-free in most jurisdictions. Off-base, major retailers like Home Depot (10% off everyday), Lowe's (10% off everyday), and Sherwin-Williams (15% off paint) extend year-round military pricing on most items. Restaurant chains (Applebee's, IHOP, Chili's, Denny's, Outback, Texas Roadhouse, Olive Garden) offer 10–15% discounts most days and free meals on Veterans Day. Big-box grocery (Costco, Sam's Club, BJ's) waive sign-up fees periodically for active-duty members.

Education, financial, and tax benefits

Outside of the directory below, several federal benefits act as effective discounts: the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) caps interest on pre-service debts at 6% during active duty (50 U.S.C. § 3901 et seq.); the Military Lending Act (MLA) caps Military APR at 36% on consumer credit for active-duty members and dependents (10 U.S.C. § 987); state-by-state property tax exemptions for disabled veterans range from partial to full; state income tax exemptions for active-duty pay are available in most states; and vehicle registration / sales-tax exemptions apply in many states for service members maintaining home-of-record residency. Tax preparation: MilTax (through Military OneSource) is a free DoD-funded tax prep package that handles combat pay exclusions, multi-state PCS issues, and rental property deductions specific to military families.

Verification and what to bring

For in-store verification, carry one of: Uniformed Services ID (CAC for active duty / DoD civilians, USID/UID for retirees/dependents), VA Health ID Card (VHIC) showing service-connected status, Veteran ID Card (VIC) issued by the VA, or a state driver's license with the federal-recognized Veteran Designation. For online verification, ID.me and GovX are the most widely accepted; SheerID and VerifyPass are integrated by some retailers. If you're a spouse using a discount on behalf of an active-duty member who's deployed or TDY, check whether the retailer accepts a Power of Attorney — most national chains do, but enforcement at point-of-sale varies.

All discounts in the directory below are independently verified against the retailer's published policy. Discount terms change without notice; we re-verify high-traffic entries quarterly. Last full pass: April 2026. Report a stale discount via the contact page.