AARP isn't just for retirees and folks over 50! If you like saving money—and who doesn't?—membership is a smart idea at any age. Here are some AARP discounts you might not know about.
20 Surprising AARP Discounts That Can Save You Loads of Money—At Any Age
Published on Jan. 09, 2025
The membership invitations usually arrive in your mailbox before you even turn 50, and most people scoff, laugh or even cry and say, “Um, not yet,” promptly throwing the paperwork in the recycling bin. AARP is for your grandparents, right? It’s for people doing their grocery shopping on certain days of the week to get the discounts or going to dinner at 5 p.m. to take advantage of the early-bird special. AARP senior discounts aren’t for hip, young, vibrant you, are they?
Well, as it turns out, AARP might be for you—even if you’re years away from 50.
“As an AARP member for over a decade, I’ve always been impressed with the value that a membership brings,” says Anthony Miyazaki, a professor of marketing at Florida International University with more than 25 years researching and consulting in consumer psychology, consumer decision-making and consumer advocacy. “Many people don’t know that you do not need to be retired to be a member and receive the benefits, and people under 50 can join AARP and receive any benefits that aren’t restricted by contracts or law. Using even one of the many benefits often will result in enough savings to cover the entire cost of your annual membership.”
If you’ve ever rented a car or stayed in a hotel, you’ve probably seen the option for discounts for AARP members, but AARP discounts go way beyond that. Let’s take a look at what AARP is, who can become a member and how AARP discounts can save you loads of money.
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What is AARP?
AARP used to stand for the American Association of Retired Persons, but the organization has since phased out that name—and for good reason. Though the interest-based nonprofit organization focuses on providing resources and support for the 50-plus population, anyone over 18 can join. It’s a common misconception that AARP is only for older, retired people.
Who can become an AARP member?
You don’t have to be 50 to join. Membership is available to those 18 or older, which is good news for anyone who wants free stuff, which is … pretty much all of us. You can join up and start taking advantage of AARP senior discounts after your senior year of high school, long before you’re even close to being a senior citizen.
An AARP membership is only $12 per year—which, based on the incredible discounts, makes it a no-brainer of an investment. In addition, you can get a second membership free for anyone in your household.
Some people resist joining AARP because it makes them “feel old,” but with more young people joining, that stigma can and should take a hike. Regardless of age, saving a few bucks always feels like a tally mark in the “win” column. AARP discounts help us save on everyday items so we can save more for fun stuff, but they also help us save on the fun stuff, such as flights, hotels, restaurants and entertainment.
The best AARP membership benefits
We asked Miyazaki and two other experts—Steve Guilday, director of travel at AARP Services, and Elvira Christiansen, director of retail and loyalty at AARP Services—to share their favorite and lesser-known membership benefits.
AARP car rental discounts
AARP members save up to 35% on rental car base rates with Avis Budget Group when choosing the Pay Now option at reservation or up to 30% when choosing Pay Later at the pickup counter, shares Guilday. Plus, members receive a 3% credit to apply to future rentals, a free upgrade on compact through full-size car class bookings (subject to availability) and an additional driver at no extra cost.
AARP discounts can also be used at Budget Truck Rental to help with moving costs or for Zipcar, when you need to rent a car just for a few hours.
Surprising benefits you may not know about: “AARP frequently provides additional offers on car rentals, so always check the website before selecting your deal,” Miyazaki explains.
AARP flight discounts
AARP has partnered with Expedia to make finding and using discounts a seamless experience, explains Guilday. “With the AARP Travel Center Powered by Expedia, AARP members can find and book the best deal for their destination effortlessly, and AARP members get exclusive deals, seasonal offers and special savings on hotels, car rentals and more,” he says.
AARP members also receive special flight discounts with British Airways. Members can save up to $200 on airline fares when they purchase round-trip transatlantic tickets online to over 130 destinations, including Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa.
Surprising benefits you may not know about: “You might have to do some price comparisons to see exactly how much you’re saving on flights and accommodations when using AARP’s Travel Center, but you’ll always know that your added bonus is a $50 gift card of your choice, which will also come in handy on your trip,” Miyazaki says.
AARP also offers travel discounts on small-group cultural immersion tours with Collette and packages through Grand European Travel, which, ironically, includes U.S. National Parks.
AARP gas discounts
“AARP members earn extra points on everyday purchases like fuel, car washes and convenience-store items when linking their ExxonMobil Rewards+ account with their AARP membership—plus two times the points on fuel on member days,” Christiansen explains.
AARP discounts include deals on roadside protection plans through Allstate, auto insurance discounts at the Hartford, discounts on oil changes at Valvoline and more.
Surprising benefits you may not know about: AARP members new to the Exxon Mobil Rewards+ program also get a 500-point welcome bonus after their first fill-up, and every 100 points equals $1 in savings redeemable on fuel, car washes or store items.
AARP hotel discounts
“AARP members are bound to find a clean, comfortable and nearby room with nearly 7,500 Choice Hotels worldwide or with Wyndham Hotels‘s portfolio of popular hotels while saving 10% on their stay as a part of their member benefits,” Guilday says.
On top of discounts, AARP membership gets you late checkouts at many of the partnering hotels.
Surprising benefit you may not know about: Miyazaki loves getting 10% off the best available rates on many hotel brands, but his favorite deal is booking flight and hotel packages through the AARP Travel Center and scooping up an extra $50 gift card of his choice.
AARP restaurant discounts
“AARP members save 10% off their checks at restaurants like Auntie Anne’s, Bonefish Grill, Carrabba’s Italian Grill [and] Moe’s Southwest Grill, or 15% off their check at Denny’s and more,” Christiansen says.
Surprising benefit you may not know about: “While the discounts at national chains come in handy, my favorite AARP restaurant discounts are for local establishments,” Miyazaki says. “Just type in your ZIP code, and there are a number of 25% discounts that you can take advantage of. I think of [them] as inflation busters.”
AARP entertainment discounts
“AARP members can save 10% on any Paramount+ plan and can start streaming over 45,000 episodes and blockbuster movies, live sports, news and exclusive originals,” Christiansen says.
Miyazaki adds that in addition to the entertainment discounts at national attractions, AARP offers an option to discover local entertainment, and this often offers higher-percentage discounts.
AARP membership benefits also include free online games and puzzles (including Atari games!).
Surprising benefit you may not know about: “One of my favorite entertainment benefits is a free one: the AARP Movies for Grownups that features a joint online showing of interesting films and includes a chat feature that allows you to interact with other viewers in real time,” Miyazaki says.
AARP health and wellness discounts
AARP offers an abundance of opportunities to save on health and wellness products and services. Members can save on dental insurance, hearing-loss solutions, at-home physical therapy, personalized nutrition, prescriptions at CVS and other pharmacies, eyeglasses, meditation apps and much more.
Surprising benefit you may not know about: Miyazaki loves AARP’s health and wellness articles, videos and other information. “AARP also offers members Medicare plans as well as vision benefits,” he says. “And when you pair these with a flexible spending account, it’s a great way to save.”
Why trust us
At Reader’s Digest, we’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. For this piece on AARP senior discounts, Jaime Stathis tapped her experience as a journalist who covers issues related to aging and retirement for Reader’s Digest. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
Sources:
- Anthony Miyazaki, PhD, professor of marketing at Florida International University with more than 25 years of experience researching and consulting in consumer psychology, consumer decision-making and consumer advocacy; email interview, November 2024
- Steve Guilday, director of travel at AARP Services; email interview, November 2024
- Elvira Christiansen, director of retail and loyalty at AARP Services; email interview, November 2024
- AARP: “Membership & Benefits”
