AARP Membership Discounts

AARP’s standard annual rate is $20 per year — but most new members pay $15 for the first year simply by choosing automatic renewal when signing up. Here’s the complete pricing breakdown:

The free second membership: Every AARP membership automatically includes a free secondary membership for any adult (18+) in your household — spouse, partner, or housemate. They get their own card and full access to every discount. This effectively halves the per-person cost to as little as $7.50 per person per year.

Military and veterans discount: Active-duty military, veterans, and their families can save up to 43–45% on AARP membership fees. Check AARP.org for the current offer.

Watch for seasonal deals: AARP has historically offered steeper discounts around Black Friday and Labor Day. New members may also receive a free welcome gift (tote bag, USB hub, or gift cards have all been offered at various times).

No — you do not have to be retired, and the minimum age is 18. Despite the word “Retired” in its historical name, AARP dropped that requirement decades ago. Anyone 18 or older can become a full member.

A few practical age notes:

• Most discounts (travel, dining, prescriptions, technology) are available immediately to members of any age
• Some insurance products are restricted to members 50 or older by law or contract — for example, certain AARP-branded health insurance products through UnitedHealthcare
• The organization’s focus is on adults 50+, but younger members who join early gain access to the full discount network right away

AARP was founded in 1958 by retired educator Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus, who pioneered affordable group health insurance for retired teachers. Today it serves nearly 38 million members and advocates on behalf of 125 million Americans age 50 and older and their families.

1. Choose your plan at AARP.org/membership. Pick 1-year (best for trying it out), 3-year (8% savings), or 5-year (21% savings). Select auto-renewal to get $15 your first year instead of $20.

2. Complete your information online — name, address, email, and a credit or debit card. The process takes about 5 minutes. You can also call 1-888-687-2277 (1-888-OUR-AARP) if you prefer to join by phone, or mail a check.

3. Access discounts immediately. Log in to AARP.org the moment your enrollment is confirmed. You do not wait for a physical card — your digital card is available instantly through your online account or the free AARP Now app (iOS and Android).

4. Add your household member. Log in to your account and add a spouse, partner, or any adult 18+ who lives with you. Their free card is mailed to them automatically — no extra charge, ever.

5. Physical card arrives in about 3 weeks. Your AARP membership number also appears on the mailing label of your first AARP The Magazine issue, so you can use it even before the card arrives.

Is AARP membership tax-deductible? No. AARP is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization, which allows it to lobby Congress and state legislatures on behalf of older Americans — but by law, dues paid to 501(c)(4) organizations are not tax-deductible as charitable contributions. You may cancel your membership at any time with no penalty.

The following list reflects AARP’s official restaurant benefit page as of early 2026. For most chains, present your physical AARP card or the digital card on the AARP Now app when the server brings your check — or give your membership number over the phone for pickup orders.

• Denny’s — 15% off pickup and dine-in orders, up to a maximum of $10 discount per visit. Among the highest percentage discounts in the program.
• Outback Steakhouse — 10% off food and nonalcoholic beverages for dine-in and curbside pickup. Does not apply to delivery or catering.
• Bonefish Grill — 10% off food and nonalcoholic beverages (dine-in and curbside). Same Bloomin’ Brands family as Outback.
• Carrabba’s Italian Grill — 10% off food and nonalcoholic beverages, dine-in or curbside only, not delivery.
• McCormick & Schmick’s — 10% off food and nonalcoholic beverages at participating locations.
• Papa John’s — up to 25% off — the highest percentage discount in the AARP restaurant network.
• Landry’s Inc. restaurant group — 10% off food and nonalcoholic beverages at all 16 brands: Aquarium, Babin’s Seafood House, Cadillac Bar, The Flying Dutchman, Gandy Dancer, Grand Concourse, Grotto, Joe’s Crab Shack, Mitchell’s Fish Market, Peohe’s, River Crab Blue Water Inn, Rusty Pelican, Simms Steakhouse, T-Rex Café, Willie G’s Seafood & Steaks, and Yak & Yeti Restaurant.
• Auntie Anne’s — 10% off in-store, in-app, and online orders. Requires linking your AARP membership number to your Auntie Anne’s Rewards account.
• McAlister’s Deli — 10% off
• Moe’s Southwest Grill — 10% off
• Jamba — 10% off
• Schlotzsky’s — 10% off
• Cinnabon — 10% off

Local restaurants: AARP also maintains a local restaurant discount program — log in to AARP.org and enter your zip code to find participating independent restaurants near you offering member-exclusive deals.

Yes — and most members never use it. AARP’s dining eGift card program lets you buy discounted gift cards for popular restaurant chains before you even arrive. This can deliver larger savings than the standard percentage-off discount.

How it works:

• Log in to AARP.org and navigate to the Dining or Shopping benefits section
• Purchase discounted eGift cards for chains including Panera Bread, Olive Garden, Outback Steakhouse, and Applebee’s — savings can reach up to 40% off face value on select cards
• Use the gift card for 100% of your purchase, making every dollar you spend effectively cost you 60–75 cents
• There are no coupons to print, no codes to remember at the register, and no per-visit maximums like the Denny’s $10 cap

Food delivery savings: AARP also has partnerships with meal delivery services including Daily Harvest ($50 off a first order of 9+ items; 10% off future orders) and Silver Cuisine (25% off first order of $99+). These are online purchases only.

Grocery coupon center: AARP provides access to a free printable grocery coupon center (powered by Coupons.com) — free for all members, no store loyalty card required.

AARP members save at 7,000+ hotel properties worldwide. The average hotel room in the U.S. now costs more than $200 per night — meaning a single 10% discount saves more than $20, already covering the annual membership fee. Here is the chain-by-chain breakdown:

• Hilton Hotels & Resorts: Up to 10% off best available rates across the entire Hilton portfolio (Hilton, DoubleTree, Hampton Inn, Embassy Suites, Homewood Suites, Home2 Suites, Hilton Garden Inn, Conrad, Curio, Tapestry, and others). Bonus perks: Instant Hilton Honors Silver Status the moment you book — which includes late checkout until 2pm if available, and you keep Silver for a year if you stay twice in 6 months. Call Hilton at 1-855-227-7445 or book online.
• Best Western: At least 5% off the lowest available rates at Best Western, Best Western Plus, Best Western Premier, and SureStay properties. Also: 10% more bonus points when you join Best Western Rewards as an AARP member. Call 1-800-618-2277.
• Wyndham Hotels: 10% off across the Wyndham family — Days Inn, Super 8, La Quinta, Travelodge, Ramada, Howard Johnson, Microtel, Wingate, and more.
• Radisson / Choice Hotels: 10% off across ~7,500 properties including Radisson, Radisson Blu, Radisson RED, Comfort Inn, Quality Inn, Clarion, Sleep Inn, Cambria Hotels, Econo Lodge, Rodeway Inn, and Country Inn & Suites. Book online or call 1-800-424-6423.
• Red Roof Inn: 10% off best available rates at Red Roof Inn, Red Roof PLUS+, Hometowne Studios, and The Red Collection. Bonus: Free bottle of water per room at check-in. Call 1-877-843-7663.
• Motel 6 / Studio 6: 10% off best available rate; late checkout until 2pm.
• AARP Travel Center (powered by Expedia): 25% or more off select stays — updated seasonally. The AARP portal also aggregates deals on vacation rentals (condos, villas, apartments) alongside hotels.

Important tip: Always select “AARP rate” in the rate-type dropdown when booking online, or identify yourself as an AARP member when calling. The AARP rate does not always surface automatically.

The DealNews expert summary (July 2025): “Renting a car from Avis for a weekend could easily save you more than $20 [the full annual membership fee]. Taking one international flight on British Airways could net you a $200 discount, paying for a decade of membership on the spot.”

The AARP Prescription Discounts provided by Optum Rx is a free prescription discount card — not insurance — that reduces the cash price of FDA-approved medications at participating pharmacies.

• Where it works: Accepted at 66,000+ pharmacies nationwide including Walgreens, CVS, and Walmart
• How it saves: The card negotiates discounted pricing with pharmacies. Members receive deeper discounts than non-members, plus home delivery and coverage that extends to dependents of any age
• Average savings: Up to 61% on covered medications (Noble Horizons, citing AARP data)
• Anyone can use it — even non-members — but AARP members receive the best pricing
• It’s free: The card is activated automatically as part of membership — no application needed

Can you use it with Medicare? Federal law prohibits using a discount card alongside Medicare, Medicaid, or other federal health programs for the same prescription at the same time. However, it is most valuable in three situations:

1. For medications not covered by your Medicare Part D plan (drugs not on the formulary)
2. During the Part D deductible period before your plan begins paying
3. When your insurance copay is actually higher than the discount card price — this happens more often than people realize, especially for generic drugs

Smart habit: Before paying at the pharmacy, ask the pharmacist to run both your insurance and the AARP discount card — then choose whichever is cheaper. Many pharmacists will do this without hesitation if you ask.

Original Medicare (Parts A and B) does not cover routine vision or hearing care. This means seniors pay entirely out of pocket for glasses, eye exams, and hearing aids — making AARP’s discounts in these categories financially significant.

Vision discounts:

• LensCrafters — 50% off prescription lenses (plus savings on complete pairs of frames and lenses). Prescription lenses typically cost $150–$400+, so 50% off represents a genuine $75–$200+ saving per pair of glasses.
• Target Optical — discounted eye exams and savings on complete pairs. Eye exams typically run $70–$100.
• VSP Vision Insurance — AARP members can access three tiers of VSP vision insurance plans, starting at very affordable premiums, covering comprehensive eye exams with minimal copays and deep discounts on lenses and frames.

Hearing discounts:

• Free annual hearing test through the National Hearing Test — available by phone or computer, results delivered in minutes. This alone helps seniors monitor hearing loss without a clinic visit.
• AARP Hearing Care Program — 20% off a large portfolio of digital hearing aids, in-person testing, custom fitting, and a free three-year supply of hearing aid batteries.
• HearUSA — discounted hearing aids and accessories at nationwide locations.
• AARP Medicare Supplement (UHC add-on, 2026): Members enrolled in AARP’s UHC Medigap plans can access an additional $200 off per pair of name-brand hearing aids on top of the standard AARP member rate.

Yes — and for many members, the wireless discounts alone pay for several years of membership. Here are the key AARP wireless partnerships:

• AT&T — up to $10 off per line per month (maximum 5 lines). That’s $120 per year per line — 6 to 8× the annual membership cost from this benefit alone. Also includes: waived select activation fees, waived select upgrade fees, and 15% off eligible accessories. (CNBC Select, Sep 2025)
• Consumer Cellular — 5% off monthly service and usage charges, plus 30% off accessories. Consumer Cellular is specifically designed for seniors, with no-contract plans, excellent senior-friendly customer service, and coverage that piggybacks on major national networks. For a member paying $40/month, the 5% saves $24/year — more than covering the membership cost.

Which wireless deal is right for you?

• Already an AT&T customer? The AARP discount is the biggest single wireless saving — $120+/yr per line. Contact AT&T and mention your AARP membership.
• Looking for a senior-friendly plan with simple pricing? Consumer Cellular is consistently ranked among the best carriers for older adults, with the 5% AARP discount on top of already-competitive rates.
• Occasionally need a car? Zipcar offers AARP members $20 off an annual membership — useful for seniors who no longer own a vehicle but occasionally need one.

Cybersecurity: AARP members also save up to 25% on Norton 360 and Norton LifeLock identity theft protection — important protection given that adults 60+ lose more money per fraud incident than any other age group (FTC data).

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is the nation’s largest free, volunteer-based tax preparation program. It is genuinely free — no hidden fees, no upselling, no forms to pay for separately.

• Scale: Tax-Aide has served more than 82 million people since its founding in 1968
• Who it serves: Focused on low-to-moderate income older adults, though there is no strict income limit at most sites
• Volunteers: All Tax-Aide volunteers are trained and IRS-certified every year — they are specifically updated on the latest tax law changes affecting older adults
• When: Open February through April 15 each year
• How to find a site: Visit taxaide.aarpfoundation.org to locate in-person or virtual appointment options near you
• What it saves: Professional tax preparation for a basic return typically costs $150–$300+. Using Tax-Aide saves that amount entirely — equivalent to 7–15 years of AARP membership cost

Mioshi Moses, AARP Foundation’s vice president of volunteer programs, confirmed in February 2026: “Tax-Aide ensures people receive the refunds they deserve, without the cost or stress of paid tax preparation, and with no hidden fees.”

The AARP Fraud Watch Network is a free fraud prevention resource that is particularly critical for older adults, who are the demographic most frequently targeted by scammers.

• Free helpline: 877-908-3360 — available Monday–Friday, 8am–8pm Eastern Time. Trained fraud specialists will speak with you at no charge if you have been targeted, need to report suspicious contact, or want to verify whether something is a scam before responding.
• Real-time scam alerts: AARP publishes ongoing warnings as new fraud tactics emerge. The January/February 2026 AARP Bulletin, for example, covered a new class-action lawsuit scam being used to steal personal data and Social Security numbers.
• Educational guides: How to recognize phone scams, Medicare fraud, Social Security impersonation, tech support scams, romance scams, and more — specific to how they target older adults.
• Save this number now: The time to have the Fraud Watch number is before you need it. Add 877-908-3360 to your phone contacts today labeled “AARP Fraud Help.”

The AARP Smart Driver™ Course is a safe driving refresher course available in two formats:

• Online: Self-paced, from your home computer or tablet, at a discounted rate for AARP members
• Classroom: In-person sessions offered nationwide through community organizations, senior centers, and AARP local chapters

The course covers updated traffic laws, the effects of medications on driving, defensive driving techniques, and strategies for handling today’s driving challenges as a mature driver. It typically takes 4–6 hours to complete.

The insurance discount angle: Many auto insurance companies offer a discount — often 5–10% — when a senior driver completes a state-approved defensive driving course. The AARP Smart Driver Course qualifies in most states. Contact your auto insurer before taking the course to confirm: (1) they honor it, and (2) which format — online or classroom — qualifies for their discount. If you pay $250/year for auto insurance and earn a 5% discount, that’s $12.50/year — covering most of the membership cost from this benefit alone, renewed annually.

AARP Driver Safety contact: 1-800-350-7025

If your budget is tight, focus on the benefits that directly reduce your largest recurring expenses — not just one-time purchases:

1. Check your cell phone bill first. If you are on AT&T, call them and request the AARP member discount — up to $10/mo per line, or $120+/year. This single change can pay for multiple years of AARP membership. If you are shopping for a new plan, compare Consumer Cellular (with the 5% AARP discount) against your current carrier.

2. Use Tax-Aide every tax season. If your income is low-to-moderate, visit taxaide.aarpfoundation.org each February and book an appointment. Saving $150–$300+ on tax preparation is one of the highest-return AARP benefits and it is completely free.

3. Check the prescription card for every medication. Before you leave the pharmacy counter, ask: “Can you run this through the AARP Optum Rx card and tell me if it’s cheaper than my insurance copay?” For generic drugs especially, the discount card often wins.

4. Always say “I have AARP” before paying at participating restaurants. Present your digital card (AARP Now app) — 10–15% off your food bill at dozens of chains. Over a year of moderate dining out, this adds up substantially.

5. Book any hotel, car rental, or travel through the AARP rate. Log in to AARP.org first, then go to the AARP Travel Center. Even a single weekend trip — one hotel night at $180 with 10% off — saves $18 and essentially pays for the membership.

6. Add the free second membership for your spouse or housemate. Log in to your account and add them now. They get full benefits at no cost — cutting your effective per-person cost in half.

7. Save the Fraud Watch number today. Add 877-908-3360 to your phone contacts as “AARP Fraud Help.” You want this number before something suspicious happens, not after.

AARP makes renewal straightforward and cancellation risk-free:

• Auto-renewal: If you chose auto-renewal, AARP will notify you by email before your credit card is charged each year — giving you time to cancel if you no longer want to continue. You are never charged without advance notice.
• Annual renewal without auto-renewal: AARP sends renewal notices by mail before your membership expires. You can renew online, by phone (1-888-687-2277), or by mail.
• Multi-year plans: 3-year and 5-year memberships do not require annual renewal — you pay once and are covered for the full term.
• Canceling: You can cancel at any time. Call 1-888-687-2277 or manage your account online. AARP does not charge cancellation fees or penalties.
• Refunds: Like most nonprofit membership organizations, AARP does not issue refunds on membership contributions.
• Updating your information: Address, phone, email, and payment method can all be updated at AARP.org or by calling customer service.