Veterans Discounts 2026: Retail, Travel, Software & Free Services for Vets

How to Verify Your Military Status for Discounts

Most veterans discounts require some form of military verification. The methods used vary by retailer and platform, but the most widely accepted verification systems are:

• ID.me — the most widely used third-party military verification service. Creating a free ID.me account links your military service records and provides a digital verification that hundreds of retailers and services accept. Create your account at id.me.
• SheerID — a competing verification service used by some companies (Nike, J.Crew, and others). Similar account-based verification process.
• Veterans Advantage — a membership program ($49.99/year) that provides additional discounts beyond standard veteran rates at certain retailers and travel providers.
• DD-214 or VA Disability Letter — some retailers (particularly for in-store discounts) accept a physical DD-214, VA award letter, or military ID card.
• Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) — the federal registry for military personnel and dependents. Many government-offered benefits verify through DEERS.

Setting up a free ID.me account takes about 15 minutes and unlocks the widest range of commercial veterans discounts in a single step. It's the most efficient investment for a veteran who wants to access discounts consistently.

Retail Discounts: Home Improvement, Electronics & More

Home Improvement

• Home Depot — 10% discount on eligible purchases (up to $400 annually), verified through ID.me. Applies year-round, not just Veterans Day. The 10% off on a major appliance or renovation project adds up fast.
• Lowe's — 10% discount on purchases, similar structure to Home Depot. Veteran must verify through military ID, DD-214, or digital verification service in-store or online.
• Menards — 11% rebate extended to military and veterans in some locations (varies by region and promotion timing).

Electronics

• Best Buy — varies by category: Best Buy offers a military discount program verified through SheerID. Discount percentages vary by product category — typically 10% on many items, with some categories (TVs, appliances) having different structures.
• Apple — education and military pricing: Apple offers an education/military discount program typically providing 5–10% off Mac computers and iPads for verified military service members and veterans through Apple's discount program page.
• Samsung — 30% off select products through Samsung's military discount program, verified via ID.me. One of the most generous electronics discounts available to veterans.

Clothing & Outdoors

• Under Armour — 20% military discount verified through ID.me at checkout on UA.com
• Brooks Brothers — 15% off for active duty and veterans, verified in-store and online
• REI — 20% off for veterans and active duty on full-price items through their military discount program
• Columbia Sportswear — 40% off for verified military through ID.me or SheerID — one of the steepest clothing discounts available

Auto Parts & Service

• AutoZone — 5–10% off parts for military and veterans (varies by location and purchase type)
• Midas, Firestone, Jiffy Lube — all offer periodic military promotions; check current offers at time of service

Travel: Hotels, Airlines & Rental Cars

Hotels

• Marriott — military rates: Marriott offers special government/military rates at many properties. Book through Marriott's "special rates" option and select the military/government rate. Rates vary by property but are typically 10–20% below standard rates and include refundable options.
• Hilton — military discount program: Hilton Honors members who verify military status receive up to 25% off at participating properties. Register your military status in your Hilton Honors profile.
• Hyatt — military rates: Available through Hyatt's website under "special rates." Military rates apply to personal and leisure travel for active duty, retirees, and veterans.
• Choice Hotels — 20% off: Veterans and active military receive 20% off the best available rate at Choice properties (Comfort Inn, Quality Inn, Econo Lodge, etc.) — particularly useful for road trips and budget travel.
• IHG Hotels — military rate: Available system-wide at InterContinental Hotels Group properties (Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza, etc.). Book through IHG's military rate option online.

Airlines

Airline discounts for veterans are less standardized than hotel discounts, but several options exist:

• Delta — Blue Light Card and military programs: Delta has periodic military discount programs and offers free checked bags for active duty traveling on orders. Veterans should check Delta's military page for current offerings.
• United Airlines — military fares: United offers specific military bereavement and travel fares for emergency situations. For leisure travel, United's military program is less consistent — check at booking time.
• American Airlines — military advantage: Free checked bags for active duty on orders; limited discount programs for veterans leisure travel.
• Southwest Airlines — not the best for military: Southwest's open seat model doesn't have traditional military discounts, but their flexible cancellation policy is valuable for military travelers with uncertain schedules.

Rental Cars

• Enterprise — Veterans Advantage: 10–20% off standard rates through Veterans Advantage membership. Enterprise also participates in the VA's authorized vendor program for veterans with service-connected disabilities requiring adapted vehicles.
• Avis — military discount: Up to 25% off base rates through AARP/military discount programs at Avis and Budget (same parent company).
• Hertz — military rate: Available through Hertz's government/military portal. Rates and availability vary by location.

Software & Technology Discounts

Software discounts for veterans are some of the most financially valuable per-category, particularly for veterans returning to school or starting businesses:

Microsoft

• Microsoft 365 (Office) — up to 30% off personal and family plans through Microsoft's military discount program. Verified through ID.me at Microsoft's military discount portal.
• Surface hardware — 10% off most Surface devices through the Microsoft military program

Adobe

• Adobe Creative Cloud — 60% off for current and former U.S. military. This is one of the most significant software discounts available — Creative Cloud normally costs $59.99/month; the military rate reduces it to approximately $24/month for the full suite including Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, and all other Adobe apps.
• Verified through ID.me on Adobe's dedicated military discount page.

Autodesk

• Autodesk — free for veterans in education/retraining: AutoCAD, Fusion 360, and other Autodesk software is available free to qualifying veterans through Autodesk's Veterans' Initiative when used for education or career transition.

TurboTax & H&R Block

• TurboTax — free federal and state filing for active duty and reservists with W-2 income. For veterans who qualify under the IRS Free File Alliance income threshold, TurboTax's military version files federal and state returns for free.
• H&R Block — military discount: Free federal and state e-filing for active duty with W-2 income; discounts for veteran tax preparation.

Peloton, Spotify, Amazon Prime

• Peloton — military discount: 20% off bikes, treadmills, and accessories for verified military. 25% off subscription plans for active duty. Verified through ID.me.
• Spotify — discounted premium: Spotify Premium is available at a reduced rate for verified military through SheerID.
• Amazon Prime — discounted rate: Amazon Prime offers a discounted Prime membership for EBT/Medicaid recipients that may apply to veterans receiving certain means-tested benefits; check Amazon's current military discount program status.

Restaurant Discounts

Many national restaurant chains offer ongoing military discounts — not just on Veterans Day. The most consistent:

Restaurant discounts vary significantly by franchise owner — the corporate policy may differ from what an individual location offers. Asking politely at the register "do you offer a military discount?" is always the fastest way to find out the current policy at a specific location.

Entertainment & National Parks

America the Beautiful — Lifetime National Parks Pass

The America the Beautiful — National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Access Pass is a permanent, free lifetime pass to all U.S. national parks and federal recreational lands for veterans and active military. As of 2022, the permanent lifetime pass (previously $10) became free for veterans. This is an extraordinary benefit that admits the pass holder and three additional guests to all 400+ national park sites for life.

To obtain the pass: visit any participating national park entrance or apply in advance through the USGS store with proof of military status (DD-214 or VA documentation).

Movie Theaters

• AMC Theatres — military discount: AMC offers discounted ticket prices for active military and veterans at most locations. Varies by theater and format (standard vs. IMAX).
• Regal Cinemas — military discount: Similar program to AMC, available at Regal theaters nationwide.

Theme Parks

• Disney Parks — Salute to Service: Disney offers significantly discounted multi-day tickets for active duty and veterans through their Salute to Service program, typically available for a limited window each year (usually spring). Savings can be $100+ per ticket compared to gate prices.
• Universal Studios — military discount: Discounted annual passes and single-day tickets for active duty and veterans.
• SeaWorld — Heroes Salute program: Active duty can receive free admission (with up to three dependents) and veterans receive discounted tickets.
• Busch Gardens — Heroes Salute: Same program as SeaWorld (same parent company).

Financial Services: Banking & Insurance

Banking

• USAA — exclusively for military: USAA provides banking, insurance, and investment products exclusively to military members, veterans, and their families. USAA's rates on auto loans, mortgages, and savings accounts are consistently competitive, and their customer service for military-specific situations (deployment, PCS moves) is designed for the veteran lifecycle. Not strictly a "discount" — it's a financial institution built specifically for military.
• Navy Federal Credit Union — military-focused credit union: Open to active duty, veterans, DoD employees, and family members. Navy Federal consistently offers competitive loan rates and low-fee accounts.
• Pentagon Federal Credit Union (PenFed): Open to veterans and military community members. Competitive rates on mortgages, auto loans, and credit cards.

Insurance

• USAA auto insurance: Consistently rated among the top auto insurers for customer satisfaction. Military-specific features include deployment coverage options and accident forgiveness programs designed for military lifestyle.
• GEICO — military discount: GEICO offers up to 15% off auto insurance premiums for active duty, veterans, and members of qualifying military organizations.
• Progressive — military discount: Competitive with GEICO for auto insurance; offers military-specific discounts verified through military service documentation.

Free Services Specifically for 100% Disabled Veterans

Veterans with a 100% service-connected or P&T disability rating unlock an entirely different tier of benefits beyond the standard veteran discounts:

If you're not yet rated at 100%, understanding what lies across that threshold can motivate pursuing additional ratings for service-connected conditions. Many veterans are at 70%, 80%, or 90% with additional ratable conditions they haven't claimed. Use our VA rating estimator to calculate whether additional claims could reach the 100% threshold.

For the complete picture of what a 100% rating provides financially and practically, see our comprehensive guide to 100% disabled veteran benefits in 2026 and our post on free things for 100% disabled veterans.

A Note on Discount Verification

Veterans discount programs change frequently — companies add, modify, or discontinue programs throughout the year. Veterans Day (November 11) typically sees the most concentrated promotion activity, but many of the discounts above are year-round. Always verify the current policy directly with the retailer or service provider before assuming a discount applies. Creating a free ID.me account is the single most useful step for efficiently accessing the broadest range of commercial veterans discounts in 2026.

Beyond commercial discounts, make sure your VA disability compensation is maximized — that's the financial benefit that compounds every month for life. If you haven't reviewed your rating recently or have conditions that have worsened, get free help with your VA claim today.