12 Lesser-Known Benefits Of Having A Costco Membership

If you're already a Costco member, you probably know the basics of shopping at the warehouse. Buying groceries in bulk, stocking up on affordable home goods and clothing, and enjoying Costco's extensive food court menu are all good reasons to make a weekly trip. But there's much more to a Costco membership than what you can pick up in the aisles. Members can also get discounts on vacations, tire services, and home remodeling projects. Costco can even help with car buying so you don't have to negotiate the price.

To help you get the most out of your Costco membership, we rounded up some of the perks you may not know about. Most are available to all members, while Executive members can get additional benefits, including an annual 2% Reward on eligible purchases and services. Whether you need new eyewear, have a pet, or enjoy going to concerts, your membership may save you money in ways you haven't considered. And once you know about these benefits, you may even find it makes sense to upgrade your Costco membership.

Before booking your next vacation, check Costco Travel to see whether your destination is available. Costco offers a variety of holiday options, including all-inclusive stays and guided vacations. Costco Travel packages may include extras such as Disney or Universal tickets, food or resort credits, waived resort fees, digital Costco Shop Cards, and even local excursions, activities, or tours.

Individual hotel bookings may also come with additional benefits, such as room or restaurant credits, complimentary experiences, or other services offered by the property. Executive members can earn their annual 2% Reward on eligible Costco Travel purchases and may receive additional benefits on select packages, often as extra hotel credits or Costco Shop Cards.

You can also book hotels and flights separately in more than 2,000 cities across the U.S. and Canada, or choose from cruises and voyages with included land tours. Whether you're planning a romantic getaway, a family vacation, or a theme-park trip, Costco Travel has options for a range of travel plans.

Through Costco Travel, you can also get discounts on car and moving truck rentals. Costco's Low Price Finder lets you select and compare rental car prices within a specific timeframe and location across multiple companies and car types. The warehouse offers rentals from Alamo, Avis, Budget, and Enterprise. 

The primary driver needs to be a Costco member, but at participating car rental locations, you can also add an additional driver through without paying an extra fee. For families or groups traveling together, this is a big perk. Some rental companies also offer Costco members more affordable GPS rentals, and, in most cases, you are not charged a cancellation fee.

For moving trucks, members can save 25% on a Budget Truck Rental by booking through Costco's site. You can also add perks like roadside assistance when selecting the truck. As usual, Executive members also earn cash back rewards on car and truck rentals.

A Costco membership can also get you discounted tickets to all sorts of events. With options that appeal to a wide range of interests, you can find everything from live performances like concerts, Disney On Ice, and Monster Jam to music festivals and haunted houses. Sports fans can find tickets to football, soccer, and hockey games, as well as NASCAR races. If you're traveling, it's also worth checking your Costco membership for deals on attractions in your destination, such as the Caesars High Roller Observation Wheel on the Las Vegas Strip or the New York City Food and Wine Festival. 

You can often choose your own seats, although some events have assigned seating. Once you purchase your tickets, Costco's booking partner, FEVO, delivers them to you digitally. One important thing to keep in mind: Costco tickets generally cannot be refunded or resold after purchase. If your plans are uncertain, you may want to consider a ticket platform that allows resale.

Who knew your pets could benefit from your Costco membership, too? We're not just talking about deals on bulk pet food — Costco members can also save on pet healthcare, insurance, and prescriptions.

One option is AskVet, a virtual telehealth service that provides 24/7 veterinary care. While it's not a substitute for an in-person vet visit, it can be useful when you have questions about your pet's health or want advice before deciding whether a trip to the veterinarian is necessary. Costco members currently pay $45 to $65 per year, depending on the plan.

You can also get pet insurance through Figo, with Costco members eligible for a 15% discount on participating plans. Figo coverage can help with veterinary bills related to unexpected accidents and illnesses, and the service also provides 24/7 access to a licensed veterinarian or vet technician by text. Executive members receive the 15% discount plus lost-pet recovery services through 24PetWatch, where available.

Finally, the warehouse pharmacy can fill prescriptions for your pets, with the Costco Member Prescription Program offering discounts on many popular medications and savings of up to 40%. To get the discounted price, bring your pet's prescription to a Costco Pharmacy (or have your veterinarian transfer it there), and present your membership card. 

Most people don't realize how extensive Costco's healthcare options are. Members and eligible dependents can get discounts on thousands of prescriptions. Savings vary by medication, but can be as much as 80% off regular prices. 

Costco also offers plenty of other health-related services. At Costco Optical, members can shop a wide selection of designer frames, sunglasses, contact lenses, and high-definition lenses, while most locations also have an independent optometrist who can perform eye exams. Costco Hearing Aid Centers offer hearing aids and accessories, along with free hearing tests and service appointments for hearing aids purchased there.

For virtual care, Costco members can get $29 appointments through Sesame with independent doctors for new prescriptions or refills, with no insurance required. Costco also offers a fertility discount program that can reduce out-of-pocket costs for infertility treatments, including IVF and egg or sperm donation, as well as discounted fertility medications.

Planning a home remodel? Costco offers a range of installation and home-improvement services, including flooring, bathroom remodeling, countertops, custom closets, windows, and more. The wholesaler partners with experienced professionals to handle projects from the initial consultation and estimate through installation, with services and availability varying by location.

Some services also come with additional member incentives, such as Costco Shop Cards, although these offers vary by service and may be limited-time promotions. For example, Costco currently advertises Shop Cards on qualifying flooring, bath remodeling, closet organization, and HVAC purchases.

Costco also offers services for projects beyond remodeling, including home standby generators, replacement windows and patio doors, water filtration systems, and HVAC installation. Many of these services start with a complimentary in-home consultation, giving you a chance to get an estimate and discuss your project with a professional before committing.

Costco offers a range of outdoor home services for members, including garage door installation, artificial turf, window and patio door replacement, and smart home security systems. Many services include a complimentary consultation or estimate, while select purchases currently come with a Costco Shop Card.

On Reddit, a customer shared that they renovated two houses using Costco services over the past 15 years. They had garage doors, a walk-in California closet, and two central a/c units installed, saving over $10,000 compared to other quotes they had received. "All were one-day installations that went smoothly. I believe all three featured bonus Costco Shop Cards of $300 to $500," the Redditor said.

Costco provides its home-improvement services through third-party, experienced professionals and provides a process that includes consultations, estimates, and installation. Depending on the service and location, Costco may also offer additional benefits such as Shop Cards, so it's worth checking the current deals before booking.

If you don't want to brave the crowds at your local warehouse, you can have your favorite Costco items delivered instead. Costco Same-Day Delivery has a $35 minimum and is fulfilled by Instacart, so you can order eligible groceries without making a trip to the warehouse. The convenience comes at a cost, however: Costco's Same-Day prices are higher than the prices at your local warehouse, since they account for Instacart's service and delivery costs.

Same-Day Delivery is available only to Costco members, and the selection is limited to eligible grocery items. If you already have an Instacart+ membership, you can save a little more: Instacart+ members will get up to 3.5% savings on every Same-Day order.

If you're ordering non-perishable items and not in a hurry, you can save more by choosing 2-Day Delivery. The prices are better than the same-day option (sometimes the same as the warehouse price), and there is no separate delivery fee with a minimum $75 order.

You may want to listen to those Costco salespeople after all: your membership can come with extra savings when you sign up for AT&T or T-Mobile. Both carriers offer Costco members promotional incentives, although the offers vary. For example, AT&T currently offers $350 in combined bill credits and a $100 Costco Digital Shop Card when qualifying customers switch and purchase a new smartphone, while T-Mobile currently offers Costco Shop Cards with new lines and upgrades.

You can also get benefits when you purchase or upgrade a device. T-Mobile waives its $35 device connection fee and currently offers a $75 Costco Digital Shop Card with a new line or qualifying financed device, or $100 when you upgrade. AT&T currently advertises up to $200 when you activate a new line and up to $150 when you upgrade with an eligible smartphone.

T-Mobile also gives Costco members 90 days for returns, although its terms and restrictions apply. Since these promotions can change, check Costco's current offers and the carrier's terms before signing up.

Your Costco membership can also come in handy when you're shopping for insurance. Costco offers term life insurance through Protective Life, with coverage options ranging from $100,000 to $5 million and terms of 10, 20, or 30 years. Members can cancel their policy at any time without a cancellation fee, and Executive members receive an additional 5% discount off member rates. Coverage and pricing depend on eligibility and underwriting requirements, and availability can vary by state.

Costco also partners with American Family Insurance for auto and home insurance. Members can receive an exclusive Costco member discount when they switch, along with the opportunity to qualify for additional discounts. Members can customize policies with different coverage options and add-ons, and manage them online.

Executive members receive additional benefits with these policies. Auto insurance includes emergency roadside assistance and lifetime renewability on eligible policies, while home insurance includes home glass repair reimbursement and home lockout assistance. These benefits vary by state, policy, and underwriting company, so check the current terms when getting a quote.

Costco members can get exclusive pricing on 5-gallon bottles of spring and purified water through Primo Brands' bottled water delivery service. The service delivers directly to your home or office, and you can rent a bottom-load dispenser that provides hot and cold water.

Setting up a delivery is straightforward: Choose your bottled water, add a dispenser if you want one, and schedule your delivery. A Primo Brands representative brings your order to your home or business and picks up your empty bottles with the next delivery.

The Costco membership benefit here is the exclusive pricing on the 5-gallon bottles, rather than a blanket discount on every part of the service. Costco notes that delivery fees, bottle deposits, administrative fees, and late fees may apply, and the service isn't available in all areas. Pricing is based on a four-week billing period, while water type and dispenser availability can vary by location. That makes this a particularly useful Costco perk for households or offices that regularly use large water bottles and would rather have them delivered than transport them from the warehouse themselves.

Costco offers a surprising number of auto-related perks for members. For example, if you get your car serviced through a participating Costco Service Center, you can get 15% off parts (up to a $500 discount per visit). And if you decide your car needs a cleaning, you can do that through Costco's member-exclusive car wash in select states.

If you're in the market for a car, the Costco Auto Program can help you shop for both new and used vehicles. An approved dealer provides prearranged pricing, so there's no need to negotiate at the dealership. Costco's support team can also assist with pricing and the purchase process.

Costco also offers tires through its Tire Centers, with installation included. Members who purchase tires through Costco get free lifetime services such as rotation, balancing, inflation, and flat-tire repairs, along with a road hazard warranty.