Washington statewide Veteran discounts

Mike Certo · Cornerstone First Mortgage · NMLS #260555 · Updated May 30, 2026 (Q2 2026 edition)

This is the WA statewide Veteran discount + benefit reference. Discounts change — call the business or check current policy before relying on any specific discount listed here. Refresh cadence: quarterly (next update August 2026).

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WA state programs worth knowing

1. Washington Disabled Veteran Property Tax Relief (RCW 84.36.379-389)

Value: often $1,000-$5,000+/year for income-qualified Veterans Washington's program is income-qualified partial relief, not an automatic full exemption: a Veteran rated 80% or more service-connected (or paid at the 100% rate) with combined disposable income at or below the county's Income Threshold 3 ($84,000 King, $64,000 Pierce for taxes payable through 2026) is exempt from all excess levies, gets an assessed-value freeze, and at lower income tiers exempts part of the regular levy too. VA disability pay doesn't count toward the income test. Starting with taxes due in 2027, the qualifying rating drops to 40% (EHB 1106). Apply through your county assessor via the Department of Revenue program.

2. WA Vehicle Registration — Disabled Veteran License Plate

Value: no vehicle license fees, plate fees, or excise tax on one vehicle Veterans receiving compensation at the 100% service-connected rate (expected to last more than a year) pay no vehicle license fees, plate fees, or excise tax on one personal-use vehicle (RCW 46.18.235). Apply through the Washington Department of Licensing (DOL) with your VA rating documentation.

3. WA State Parks — Lifetime Disabled Veteran Pass

Value: free for life Washington-resident Veterans with a 30% or higher service-connected rating get a free lifetime pass covering campsite use, day-use vehicle access, moorage, watercraft launch, and trailer dump at Washington State Parks (RCW 79A.05.065, parks.wa.gov).

4. WA Hunting + Fishing License Discount

Value: roughly half price Washington-resident Veterans with a 30% or higher VA service-connected rating qualify for reduced-fee hunting and fishing licenses — roughly half the standard price — through the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). The rating must be from the VA. Apply with your VA documentation.

5. Washington State Veterans Homes

WDVA operates four Medicare/Medicaid-certified Veterans Homes with 24-hour nursing care — Orting (the historic Soldiers Home), Port Orchard (Retsil), Spokane, and Walla Walla. A meaningful long-term-care option for aging Veterans and eligible spouses (dva.wa.gov).

6. WA Veterans' Services + Education

• WA Tuition Waiver — Some WA public universities offer tuition reduction for WA-resident Veterans (verify current eligibility with each institution)
• WA Veterans' Education Assistance — Supplemental to federal GI Bill at certain WA schools
• Dependent education benefits — Surviving spouses + children of deceased service members may qualify

7. WA Voter Registration + Polling Access

WA allows mail-in absentee ballots for deployed military + family members. Active-duty also have expedited polling place access.

8. WA-Specific Veteran Court Programs

Several WA counties have Veterans Treatment Courts for Veterans involved in non-violent legal issues. Combines accountability + treatment instead of standard prosecution.

National retail discounts (typically available at WA locations)

These are well-established Veteran discounts at national chains. Mike has personally verified many at WA locations, but always confirm at the store before assuming the discount applies.

Home improvement

• Home Depot — 10% off year-round for Veterans, active-duty, military spouses (with verification via SheerID)
• Lowe's — 10% off year-round for Veterans, active-duty (with verification)
• Ace Hardware — Varies by WA location; many offer 5-10% discount with ID
• Sherwin-Williams — 10% off for active-duty + Veterans

Food + dining (varies by location)

• Chick-fil-A — Free meal on Veterans Day at participating WA locations
• Applebee's — Free meal on Veterans Day
• Texas Roadhouse — Free meal on Veterans Day; free appetizer year-round at some WA locations
• Outback Steakhouse — 10% off year-round at participating WA locations
• Starbucks — Free tall coffee on Veterans Day for Veterans, active-duty, spouses
• Krispy Kreme — Free original glazed dozen on Veterans Day

Retail + apparel

• Lululemon — 25% off year-round for active-duty + Veterans (with ID verification)
• Under Armour — 10% off year-round
• Nike — 10% off year-round via official.gov verification
• Adidas — 30% off year-round through MILITARY VERIFY
• Old Navy + Gap + Banana Republic — 10% off year-round with verification

Auto + travel

• GEICO — Auto insurance discount for active-duty + Veterans (verify current rate)
• USAA — Banking + insurance designed specifically for military members + families
• Choice Hotels — Military discount on most properties (verify at booking)
• Avis + Budget car rental — Discount with military verification
• National Car Rental — Emerald Club benefits sometimes waived for active-duty
• Anytime Fitness — Many WA locations waive enrollment fee for Veterans

Communications + technology

• AT&T Wireless — 25% off most plans for Veterans + active-duty (verify)
• Verizon Wireless — Military discount on most plans (verify)
• T-Mobile — Magenta MAX Military 50% off select plans (verify)
• Spectrum Internet — Military discount on some plans (verify)
• Apple Education + Military — Apple ID with.mil email gets discounts on Mac + iPad

Federal benefits worth knowing

VA disability compensation

2026 monthly rates (single Veteran, no dependents):

• 10% = $175
• 30% = $545
• 50% = $1,114
• 70% = $1,759
• 100% = $4,098 (with spouse and 2 kids)

Tax-free federally and in WA. Use for mortgage qualification (grossed-up 25% for DTI).

VA healthcare priority groups

• Priority 1 — 50%+ disabled Veterans; no copays
• Priority 2 — 30-40% disabled
• Priority 3 — Former POWs, Purple Heart recipients
• Priority 4 — Catastrophically disabled, low income
• Priority 5 — Veterans under 50% disability who can't afford care
• Priority 6-8 — Other Veterans including 0% rated; some copays apply

Apply at any VA Medical Center; benefits include primary care, mental health, prescription drugs.

VA education + GI Bill

• Post-9/11 GI Bill — Tuition + housing + book stipend for 36 months of education
• Yellow Ribbon Program — Covers tuition above state-school cap at participating private schools
• Transfer of GI Bill — Active-duty can transfer benefit to spouse or dependents

VA pension (for low-income Veterans)

Federal income supplement for low-income wartime Veterans aged 65+ or permanently disabled. Tax-free.

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)

Tax-free monthly payments to surviving spouses + children of service members who died in service or from service-connected causes.

VA-backed home loans

The benefit you already know — used to buy + refinance with $0 down + no PMI. Funding fee waived for 10%+ disability rating. Full WA guide.

How to verify any of these discounts

Most national chains use SheerID, ID.me, or GovX for verification. One-time signup gives you reusable verification across multiple retailers.

• ID.me — VA's official verification service (also works for retailer + government discounts)
• SheerID — Used by Home Depot, Lowe's, Under Armour, many others
• GovX — Federal employee + military marketplace; aggregates many discounts
• VetRewards by VetFriends — Quarterly membership ($4/mo) aggregates 100,000+ discounts

Download the full WA Veteran Money-Saving Guide PDF

Get the PDF → — 20-page printable guide consolidating everything on this page plus additional resources. Updated quarterly. Free.

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Discounts change. Mike refreshes this page quarterly. Get notified when new discounts are added or programs change:

Disclaimer

This page is for informational purposes. Discounts and benefits are subject to change without notice. Always verify current discount availability with the business or program administrator. Mike Certo and Cornerstone First Mortgage are not affiliated with the businesses, products, or government programs listed unless specifically noted. No endorsement is implied.