55+ Senior Discounts You Can Get Starting at Age 55

Most seniors miss discounts they qualify for because they never think to ask.

Hundreds of businesses offer discounts starting at age 50, 55, 60, or 65. Most don’t advertise them.

You just have to ask.

We put together the most complete list of senior discounts available, organized by category so you can find the ones that save you the most money.

Quick Reference

Category	Savings	Best Deals
Phone Plans	$20-$40/month	T-Mobile 55+ plan
Groceries	10% off weekly	Kroger, Albertsons, Safeway
Travel & Hotels	10-25% off	National Parks lifetime pass, Best Western, Marriott
Restaurants	10-20% off	Denny’s 55+ menu, IHOP, Chili’s
Retail & Services	10-20% off	Walgreens, Ross, Salvation Army
Auto Services	10% off	Valvoline, Jiffy Lube, Pep Boys
Financial Benefits	Hundreds to thousands/year	Property tax exemptions, Medicare savings

Pro Tip: Stack your senior discounts with cash back apps like Fetch Rewards to save even more. Scan your receipt after every purchase and earn free gift cards on top of your discount.

AARP Membership (Age 50+)

Before anything else, get an AARP membership. It costs $16/year and unlocks discounts at hundreds of businesses.

You only need to be 50 to join.

• What you get: Discounts on hotels, car rentals, restaurants, groceries, prescriptions, and more
• Check all benefits: AARP Benefits page
• Credit card bonus: The AARP Rewards credit card often comes with a $150 sign-up bonus for spending $500 in the first 90 days

Your AARP card works at most of the businesses listed below, often stacking with their existing senior discount.

Phone and Internet

These save you the most money month over month. A $20/month savings adds up to $240/year.

T-Mobile 55+ Plan

T-Mobile’s 55+ plan offers two unlimited lines for $70/month. That’s one of the best phone deals available for anyone, senior or not.

• Age requirement: 55+
• Savings: $20-$40/month vs standard plans
• Includes: Unlimited talk, text, and data

AT&T Senior Plans

AT&T offers discounted plans for AARP members. Check AT&T’s AARP page for current offers.

Consumer Cellular

Consumer Cellular is built specifically for seniors with simple plans starting at $20/month and 5% off for AARP members.

Grocery Store Discounts

Grocery discounts are available weekly or monthly and add up fast over a year.

Store	Discount	Age	When
Kroger family (Fred Meyer, Fry’s, Ralphs, King Soopers, Pick ‘n Save)	10% off	55+	First Tuesday or Wednesday of month
Albertsons	10% off	55+	One day per month (varies)
Safeway	10% off	55+	One day per month (club card required)
C-Town Supermarkets	Varies	55+	Check locally

How to maximize grocery savings:

1. Shop on senior discount day
2. Use store coupons on top of the discount
3. Scan your receipt with Fetch Rewards for cash back
4. Check out our full list of grocery cash back apps for even more savings

Travel and Hotel Discounts

Hotels

Hotel	Discount	Age
Best Western	15% off	55+
Clarion Hotels	Varies	60+
Comfort Inn	Varies	60+
Econo Lodge	Varies	60+
Holiday Inn	Varies	62+
Hyatt Hotels	Varies	62+
Marriott Hotels	Varies	62+
Motel 6	Varies	60+

Always ask at check-in. Even if the discount isn’t advertised, many hotels will offer one.

You may need to show ID.

Airlines

Airline	Discount	Age
British Airways	$65 off economy, $200 off business (AARP)	55+
Alaska Airlines	Varies	65+
American Airlines	Varies	65+
United Airlines	Varies	65+

Car Rentals

Company	Discount	Requirement
Avis	Up to 30% off	AARP card
Budget	Up to 20% off	AARP card

National Parks Lifetime Pass

The America the Beautiful Senior Pass is one of the best deals for seniors. For $80 one-time, you get lifetime access to all 400+ national parks, forests, and wildlife refuges.

• Age requirement: 62+
• Cost: $80 lifetime (or $20/year)
• Covers: Entrance fees at all federal recreation areas plus discounts on camping
• Where to buy: Any national park entrance or online at USGS

Other Travel

• Amtrak - 10% discount for ages 65+
• Greyhound - 5% discount for ages 62+

Restaurant Discounts

Most restaurant discounts are 10% off or a special senior menu with lower prices. Always ask, even if you don’t see it advertised.

Restaurants with 55+ Discounts

Restaurant	Discount
Denny’s	Special 55+ menu with lower prices
IHOP	Special 55+ menu
Perkins	Special 55+ menu
Chili’s	10% off at many locations
Dunkin’	Varies by location
Arby’s	Varies by location
A&W	Varies by location
Carl’s Jr	Varies by location
Chick-fil-A	Varies (some offer free coffee)
Dairy Queen	10% off or free drink at many locations
Einstein’s Bagels	10-15% off
Fuddruckers	Varies by location
Jack in the Box	Up to 20% off at some locations
KFC	Discount at most locations
Long John Silver’s	10% off at most locations
McDonald’s	Varies (some offer free coffee)
Papa John’s	Senior promotions at times
Popeyes	10% off at many locations
TCBY	10% off
Wendy’s	10% off at most locations

Restaurants with 60+ Discounts

Restaurant	Discount
Applebee’s	10-15% off
Burger King	Varies
Friendly’s	Varies
Golden Corral	Varies
O’Charley’s	Varies
Schlotzsky’s	Varies
Sonic	Varies
Subway	Varies
Waffle House	Varies

Restaurants with 62-65+ Discounts

Restaurant	Discount
Boston Market	Varies (65+)
Hardee’s	Varies (65+)
Taco Bell	5% off (65+)
Whataburger	Varies (62+)

AARP Restaurant Discounts

Show your AARP card at these restaurants for 10% off:

• Bonefish Grill
• Carrabba’s
• Claim Jumper
• Landry’s Seafood House
• McCormick & Schmick’s
• Outback Steakhouse
• Rainforest Cafe
• Saltgrass Steak House
• The Oceanaire Seafood Room

Retail and Services

Drugstores

• Walgreens - 20% off most items every Tuesday for ages 55+ (one of the best senior discounts available). AARP members may qualify at 50.

Clothing and Retail

Store	Discount	Age
Ross Dress for Less	10% off (Every Tuesday Club)	55+
Bealls	Up to 20% off one day per week	50+
Hallmark	Varies by location	55+
Kohl’s	15% off (specific days)	60+
Goodwill	10-25% off (specific days)	60+
Salvation Army	10% off	55+

Home Services

Service	Discount	Age
Roto-Rooter	10% off	55+

Auto Services

Service	Discount	Age
Valvoline Instant Oil Change	10% off	50+
Pep Boys	10% off parts and supplies	55+
Jiffy Lube	10% off at many locations	55+

Tip: Check their websites for coupons too. Many franchisees let you use a coupon and the senior discount at the same time.

Financial Benefits for Seniors

These save the most money but take a little more effort to claim.

Property Tax Exemptions

Most states offer property tax exemptions or freezes for seniors, typically starting at age 65. Some states start at 60 or 62.

This can save you $500-$5,000+ per year depending on your home value and location.

• How to apply: Contact your county tax assessor’s office
• Common programs: Homestead exemptions, tax freezes, tax deferrals

Medicare Savings Programs

If you’re 65+ and on a limited income, Medicare Savings Programs can pay your Medicare premiums, deductibles, and copays.

Social Security Optimization

You can start collecting Social Security at 62, but waiting until 67 (full retirement age) or 70 increases your monthly benefit significantly. Every year you delay past 67 adds 8% to your benefit.

Senior Banking Benefits

Many banks offer free checking accounts with no minimum balance for customers 55+, 60+, or 65+. Ask your bank about their senior account options.

IRA Catch-Up Contributions

If you’re 50+, you can contribute an extra $1,000/year to your IRA (on top of the $7,000 standard limit) and an extra $7,500/year to your 401(k).

How to Never Miss a Senior Discount

Most businesses don’t advertise their senior discounts. Follow these tips:

1. Always ask. The worst they can say is no.
2. Ask before you pay, not after. Some systems can’t apply discounts retroactively.
3. Carry your AARP card. It works at hundreds of places beyond this list.
4. Check on specific days. Many discounts are only available one day per week or month.
5. Stack discounts. Use senior discounts with coupons, store sales, and cash back apps for maximum savings.
6. Ask about senior menus. Restaurants like Denny’s and IHOP have separate 55+ menus with lower prices.
7. Check your property taxes. The senior exemption alone could save you more than all other discounts combined.

Housing Discounts for Seniors

If you’re looking for affordable housing options, seniors have some unique advantages:

• 55+ condo communities - Often sell for less due to the limited buyer pool, even when they’re the nicest units around
• 55+ mobile home parks - Some are organized as condominiums with very low total living costs
• Habitat for Humanity - Serves seniors who qualify based on income

Check out our full guide on cheap housing options for more ideas.

Frequently Asked Questions

What age qualifies for senior discounts?

It varies by business. Some start at 50 (AARP), many begin at 55 (restaurants, groceries), and others require you to be 60, 62, or 65.

Always ask, because the qualifying age is often lower than you’d expect.

Is an AARP membership worth it?

Yes. At $16/year, a single hotel discount or restaurant visit can pay for the entire membership. The credit card sign-up bonus alone ($150) covers it for nearly 10 years.

Do you have to ask for the senior discount?

Usually, yes. Most businesses don’t apply it automatically.

Get in the habit of asking “Do you have a senior discount?” at every checkout.

Can you combine senior discounts with coupons?

In most cases, yes. Senior discounts are typically applied on top of sale prices and coupons.

See our deal stacking guide for how to maximize this.

Final Thoughts

The biggest savings aren’t the 10% restaurant discounts. They’re the property tax exemptions, Medicare savings programs, and phone plan discounts that save you hundreds or thousands per year.

Start with the high-impact items (phone plan, grocery discount day, property taxes), then layer on the smaller discounts everywhere else. Combined with money-saving apps and smart shopping habits, you can save thousands of dollars every year.

More Ways to Save

• Free Online Courses for Senior Citizens
• 40 Cheap Housing Options
• Best Money-Saving Apps
• Best Cash Back Shopping Apps
• Deal Stacking Guide