As an appreciation for your service in the military, almost all of the manufacturers offer a cash bonus savings that can be applied towards a purchase or lease. Most deals are around $500 but can go as high as $5,000 on certain models.

Nearly all manufacturers offer discounts and offers to those currently stationed overseas, but BMW and Volvo have very comprehensive incentives for military personnel in Europe. Volvo will offer to ship the vehicle to the nearest possible local dealer or port or have it directly shipped to your next destination. Volvo will take care of the shipping and marine fees and make all the arrangements to ship it back to the U.S. if you drop it off at one of the 20 home shipment locations in Europe.

Let’s take a closer look at how to qualify and the requirements for each of the military savings programs.  At the bottom we also list all the current discounts for military personnel offered by each manufacturer.

Table of Contents

• How to Qualify for a Military Discount
  • Military Status Requirements
• What to Bring to the Dealership
• Best Deals for Military Personnel

How to Qualify for a Military Discount

To qualify for a military discount you typically have to be active duty or retired armed services.

Military Status Requirements

The eligibility for the military incentive programs is generally the same for most manufacturers, with differences on restrictions on how long a veteran has been separated from military service (1-3 years). These bonus deals generally apply to:

• Active Duty
• Reservists
• Retired
• Veterans

A majority of manufacturers specify active duty as someone who is full-time in the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marines. About a third of the manufacturers make these programs eligible to members of the National Guard:

• Acura
• GM Military Discount (Buick, GMC, Cadillac, Chevrolet)
• Ford
• Honda
• Hyundai
• Infiniti
• Lincoln

BMW only offers its program to active military stationed overseas, but USAA members and their families living in the U.S. are eligible. Some programs like Honda and Ford’s extend their offers to military personnel and their spouses.

Ford and Lincoln are the only manufactures that offer military incentives to members of the Honor Guard. While Lexus is the only one to offer its program to Gold Star families. A few manufacturers do require a qualifying salary in addition to getting a credit approval through their financial services.

What to Bring to the Dealership

The military incentive programs are recognized nationally so any authorized dealership should acknowledge the discounts.

Accepted forms of proof for military status varies for each manufacturer but they generally will accept:

• Leave and Earning Statement (LES)
• Military ID card
• DD form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty
• Retiree Account Statement (eRAS)
• Retiree Separation Orders

If purchasing or leasing with GM Military Discount, you will need to get an authorization code from their site. It uses ID.me to verify your eligibility for the program so you only need to bring your driver’s license and authorization number.

Best Deals for Military Personnel

Out of the many military programs GM Military Discount and Lexus stand out as the better deals. GM Military Discount allows for a generous 3-year period in which the veteran has left service while Lexus’ is 2 years. They both offer their programs to a wide range of military or related personnel.

STOP! Don’t choose a car based on incentives alone.

Use my free service to Check Discount Car Prices from several dealers at once.   Start a bidding war to get yourself the lowest possible price.

 

Updated: November 18th, 2019 (These offers may vary based on location, credit score, and financing terms and are not guaranteed.  So use my free service to Check Discount Car Prices to get the best prices that include current manufacturer offers and incentives.)