It took me a few months after getting a Costco membership to realize I could get discounts on everything from vacations to hotels and even warranties for electronics. After that, I went online to see what Costco perks I’d overlooked, and there’s a lot I didn’t know about.
Even if you’ve been a Costco member for a while, I’d bet there are a few membership benefits you’ve probably forgotten about. Here are three that are easily missed.
1. Discounts when buying a car
I once spent most of a rainy Saturday haggling on the price of a used car, burning up a lot of time and much of my own patience trying to get a good deal. It worked out pretty well for me, but had I known about Costco’s car-buying perk, I probably would have signed up for a membership without hesitation.
Costco members get reduced new and used car prices with their membership — no haggling required. Just start the car-buying process at CostcoAuto.com, and you can get a prearranged price from local dealerships. Then, just show up at the dealership, take a test drive, and buy the vehicle if you want.
You can also save on parts, services, and accessories as an added perk.
2. Cheaper home and auto insurance policies
You may have noticed lately that insurance costs have skyrocketed. If you haven’t, you may want to check your latest policy update. Homeowners’ insurance premiums have risen 20% over the past two years, and car insurance rates have jumped by about the same percentage in the past year.
I’ve been guilty of choosing an insurance policy and never thinking about it again, but that’s a terrible way to get the best deal. If you’re a Costco member, you can save without doing much comparison shopping.
Costco says that members save an average of about $596 on auto insurance the first year after they switched to Costco’s CONNECT insurance, powered by American Family Insurance. You can also save with Costco insurance through student discounts, safe driving, and signing up for multiple products.
Since 9 out of 10 Costco members renew their CONNECT policies, it’s clear that most members feel as if they’re getting a great deal.
3. Deals on pet insurance
Caring for pets can be very expensive these days, considering that routine pet checkups can cost up to $250. However, Costco members can save money by signing up for Figo Pet Insurance through Costco.
The company says members may be eligible for an exclusive discount on insurance plans. For example, Gold Star and Business Members can receive up to a 15% discount.
There are additional perks of getting pet insurance through Costco, like access to a live vet or vet tech 24/7 via text and having access to your pet’s medical records through Figo’s Pet Cloud app.
If you’re already a Costco member, it may be worth looking into these perks to see how they could help you free up money in your budget. And if you’re not a member, spending just $65 for a Gold Star membership or $130 for the Executive Membership could easily be worth the price with the cost savings from just one of the perks on this list.
Based in New York, Stephen Freeman is a Senior Editor at Trending Insurance News. Previously he has worked for Forbes and The Huffington Post. Steven is a graduate of Risk Management at the University of New York.