Veterans Day Deals for Vets — A practical guide for veterans and family members

Veterans Day (November 11) is a common time for retailers, restaurants, and service providers to offer special veteran-focused deals and discounts. These offers range from restaurant meals and retail savings to travel and tech discounts — most require proof of military service and may be limited to participating locations or specific dates. Planning ahead and confirming verification requirements makes it easier to redeem offers.

Quick snapshot: how common these offers are

There are about 15.8 million U.S. veterans as of 2023, so many national brands publish Veterans Day promotions each year to recognize service and connect with veteran customers. Expect national chains and local businesses to publish their deals in the weeks before November 11.

Typical types of offers

• Restaurant promotions: selected chains run special Veterans Day meal offers or menu items redeemable with proof of service. These offers often require an in-store visit and valid military ID or other accepted documentation.
• Retail discounts: electronics, tools, apparel, and home retailers commonly provide a veteran discount or special pricing for verified accounts or in-store purchases. Check whether a brand requires online verification (for example, ID.me) or in-person ID.
• Service & travel deals: select hotels, car-rental programs, and service providers may post veteran pricing or special bundles timed to Veterans Day. Availability and terms vary widely.
• Local offers: community restaurants, small businesses, and local service providers often have neighborhood-specific offers — these may require advance reservations or be limited to dining hours.

Example offers

• Dunkin’ — offers a Veterans Day donut promotion redeemable in participating locations; identification showing service status is typically required.
• Starbucks — many Starbucks locations participate in Veterans Day recognition programs; check the company’s public military-community posts and local store listings for details.
• Home Depot — maintains an ongoing military discount program for verified eligible shoppers and often highlights Veterans Day savings; confirm enrollment and terms on the retailer site.
• Apple — offers a dedicated Veterans and Military store experience with eligibility-based savings on certain products; online verification is typically required.

(These are representative examples; program details and participating locations change year to year — verify current-year terms before visiting.)

Proof of service — what usually works

Commonly accepted forms of proof include a Department of Defense ID, Veterans Health Identification Card (VHIC), a state-issued veteran designation on a driver’s license, a Veteran ID Card (VIC), or a copy of DD214. Some online offers require verification through a platform such as ID.me. Check each offer’s listed acceptable IDs before attempting to redeem.

Practical tips for redeeming offers

1. Confirm participation and dates: Not every location of a national chain participates — call ahead or check the chain’s official announcement page.
2. Bring appropriate ID or verification: Carry a commonly accepted form of proof (VHIC, state veteran-designated ID, DD214), or complete online verification steps in advance if required.
3. Check redemption rules: Some offers are in-store only, limited to one per eligible guest, or require a purchase to redeem — read the fine print.
4. Join loyalty programs or verify early: Signing into retailer loyalty accounts or completing ID verification early (ID.me or retailer-specific verification) can speed checkout.
5. Consider timing: Weekday Veterans Day offers can be less crowded than weekend promotions; many restaurants set specific serving windows.

Safety & privacy reminder for verification tools

Third-party verification services (for example, ID.me) are commonly used to confirm eligibility for online discounts. These services have published help pages that explain acceptable documents and verification steps — review those instructions before sharing sensitive records. For an official veteran digital ID option, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs issues the Veteran ID Card (VIC) for eligible veterans.

Final checklist before going out

• Confirm the exact offer and participating locations on the brand’s official page.
• Bring or prepare the required verification (photo ID, VHIC, DD214, or completed ID.me verification).
• Note any time windows, limits, or purchase requirements attached to the offer.
• Consider calling a local store to reserve a table or confirm availability for meal offers that may be limited.

References (all links cited above)

• https://www.militarymoney.com/discounts/veterans-day-deals/
• https://www.military.com/veterans-day/restaurants-veterans-day-military-discounts.html
• https://www.military.com/veterans-day/retailers-veterans-day-military-discounts.html
• https://news.dunkindonuts.com/blog/veterans-day-offer-2024
• https://about.starbucks.com/starbucks-commitment-to-the-military-community/
• https://www.homeDepot.com/c/military (Home Depot military benefits)
• https://www.apple.com/shop/browse/home/veterans_military
• https://www.census.gov/newsroom/facts-for-features/2024/veterans-day.html
• https://themilitarywallet.com/veterans-day-free-meals-and-discounts/
• https://help.id.me/hc/en-us/articles/204456674-Verify-your-Military-status-with-ID-me-for-discounts
• https://www.va.gov/records/get-veteran-id-cards/