If you are a veteran of the U.S. armed forces who is searching for a new car, there are many automobile companies that offer the best military discounts and cars for veterans. Most of these companies offer these discounts within 1 – 3 years of discharge. These discounts can make certain cars more affordable for current and former members of the military and their families. Keep reading to find out the best cars for veterans.
- Which Automobile Makers Offer The Best Military Deals to Veterans?
- Other Automobile Makers that Offer Military Discounts to Veterans
- What Information Do You Need to Qualify for Veteran Discounts?
- Car Insurance for Veterans
What Automobile Makers Offer the Best Military Deals to Veterans?
There are a number of automobile makers in the US that offer current and former members of the military and their families discounts on automobiles to thank them for their service. These military discounts can be anywhere from $500 off the price of a new vehicle to assistance getting your vehicle to you while you are deployed overseas and other perks.
General Motors
General Motors offers special discounts to members of the military, veterans, and their spouses.
Eligible participants include Active Duty members, Reservists, National Guard members, Veterans within three years of discharge date and Retirees of these U.S. military branches:
- Army
- Navy
- Air Force
- Marines
- Coast Guard
The way GM’s program works is that the military consumer goes online and builds a vehicle that they want from one of the GM brands such as Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, or Cadillac. You must also enter your military credentials. You then receive a price quote with guaranteed savings and an authorization number to take to the dealership. Although not all vehicles are included in the offer, it can be combined with other discounts and special prices.
Chevrolet Cruze
One highly ranked GM vehicle that you may be interested in if you are looking for a compact car is the Chevrolet Cruze which is ranked #5 by US News for compact cars. According to Consumer Reports, this vehicle has a comfortable ride and quiet interior. Furthermore, the car features Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The car comes with ten standard airbags, rear vision camera, and StabiliTrak. 2019 will be the final year of production. This vehicle is rated an 8.5/10 by US News & World Report and a 5/5 by Cars.com. It starts at a MSRP of $17,995. MPG of up to 31 city/ 48 highway. This car’s fuel tank holds 13.5 gallons.
Nissan
Nissan offers one of the largest discounts to members of military and veterans on the purchase of its cars. This automobile manufacturer offers members of the military who are Active, Reserve, Retired (must have completed 20 years of Active or Reserve duty), or a Veteran (must be within 24 months of separation from Active or Reserve duty) between $500 and $1000 off the purchase of a new car through the Nissan Military Program. Furthermore, this discount can be added on top of current sales and local discounts.
Nissan Altima
One high-quality Nissan that military veterans may want to consider is the Nissan Altima. This car is known for its great fuel economy, great sound insulation and comfortable seats making this car a good choice for people who drive for long periods of time. According to the IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) the car is rated superior for front crash prevention. US News & World Reports rated this car an 8.4/10 and Car and Driver rates it a 4/5. This car starts at a MSRP of $24,000. MPG up to 28 city/ 39 highway. This car’s fuel tank holds 16 gallons.
Acura
Acura is another auto manufacturer that offers a discount to military service people called the Acura Military Appreciation Offer. This offer gives a $750 discount toward the purchase or lease of a 2019 Acura or newer if you lease or finance through Acura Financial Services. Acura’s offer is open to U.S. Military Active Duty, including Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, National Guard, Coast Guard and Active Reserve, and their spouses, U.S. Military Ready Reserve and Retirees, and their spouses, and U.S. Military Veterans and their spouses. U.S. Veterans and their spouses within one year of separation from active service. You must bring your Leave and Earnings Statement (LES) to prove military status. A military spouse must provide a Military ID and LES.
Acura RDX
A very highly rated Acura is the Acura RDX. According to Consumer Reports, the vehicle has agile handling, a powerful turbocharged engine, modern interior and standard advanced safety features. The standard safety features include forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, rear view camera, anti-lock brakes, traction control, stability control, and daytime running lights. Blind spot warning and rear cross traffic warning are optional. The vehicle’s shortcomings, however, are its complex controls and low fuel economy. This Acura is rated an 8.6/10 by US News & World Report and is ranked #2 in the Luxury Compact SUV. It is also rated a 4.4/5 by Cars.com. This vehicle starts at a MSRP of $37,400. MPG up to 22 city/ 28 highway.
Other Automobile Manufacturers That Offer Discounts To Military Service Members and Veterans
- Mazda offers $500 in bonus cash to current military services members as well as veterans within two years of discharge.
- Toyota offers a $500 discount on the purchase of a Toyota vehicle to active service members and their families as well as veterans within two years of departure from military service.
- Honda offers $500 off purchase or lease of a 2019 or newer vehicle for current service members and veterans within one year of separation from service.
- Ford and Lincoln offer discounts to current and former military service members within two years of service. With Ford and Lincoln it is important to note that not all of the vehicle models are included, and you have to register online in advance of going to the dealership. Moreover, the discounts vary depending on where you live.
- Veterans within one year of discharge can also get $500 bonus cash toward the purchase of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.
- Moreover, Subaru will give veterans within a year of discharge $500 off the best price that they can negotiate on a Subaru vehicle.
- Hyundai offers a $500 credit towards the purchase of a lease of a Hyundai or a Genesis vehicle.
- Additionally, Volkswagen offers $500 off of new model cars for veterans within two years of discharge.
- Your savings with Mitsubishi can add up to $750, among the highest levels of savings for veteran discounts. The company offers a $500 rebate to service members and Ally Financial, a partner of the auto manufacturer, offers an additional $250 discount if you finance or lease your vehicle through the company.
- Lexus also offers military service members and veterans within two years of discharge a $750 discount toward the purchase or lease of a Lexus.
- Infiniti and BMW also offer discounts and work directly with military service members and veterans on vehicle pricing; the amount of their discount is not specified.
What Information Do you Need To Receive a Military Discount?
In addition to being a current or former member of the United States Armed Forces, you generally need to have your Military ID and a Leave and Earnings Statement. Furthermore, many car makers require that you register online, get a price quote or an authorization code to qualify. Therefore, be sure to check out the car makers website before heading to the dealership.
Even More Savings For Veterans
Some auto dealerships may offer discounts in addition to auto makers. Therefore, you should bring your credentials to the dealership and be sure to ask about discounts. Furthermore, discounts may increase on Veteran’s Day and Memorial Day. For example, Ford often increases its discount from $500 to $750 on Memorial Day. Hyundai has even been known to double its discount to $1000 between May 20 and the end of the month. Some car manufacturers even extend the discount to include all veterans no matter how long they have been away from the military.
Car Insurance for Veterans
There are a few auto insurance companies that specifically cater to veterans and may be a good idea for you to consider. One such auto insurance company is USAA. USAA only insures current and former members of the military and their families. However, if you qualify for membership, the company is known for offering excellent customer service. Furthermore, USAA’s rates tend to be lower than many other auto insurance companies. Additionally, the company’s claims satisfaction rating is routinely better than all of the top insurance companies. The company also makes auto insurance easy for military members who are about to be deployed. Auto insurance companies such as Geico and Arbella (only in Massachusetts) also offer substantial discounts to veterans. Learn more about which auto insurance companies give veterans the best rates on car insurance.
Final Thoughts
The bottom line is that many automobile manufacturers offer military discounts to current military service members, veterans, and their families. These auto makers have a few top of the line automobiles which are highly rated, comfortable and have great safety features. Companies such as GM entice veterans to consider purchasing their cars with guaranteed savings as well as other services. Other auto makers discounts may not persuade you to purchase their vehicle; however, you should be aware of them so that you can take advantage of these discounts if you are recently discharged from the military and are already considering purchasing a vehicle from one of these auto makers.