11 Costco Membership Benefits That Are Too Valuable To Ignore

I have been a loyal Costco member for many years now because the Costco membership benefits are worth it! Even when I was more or less broke while raising four growing kids, I still made room in our budget for a Costco membership. The money it saved us always exceeded the cost of the membership, making it worth paying that upfront cost.

I’m definitely not buying as much food these days as I did back then, but I still get a lot out of my membership. In fact, it seems as though the more I learn about the services that my Costco membership offers, the more I get out of it! I’ll be sharing 11 of those great lesser-known member benefits with you in this post.

Related: 7 Surprising Costco Tips You Need To Know About

Note: Just to clarify, this post is NOT sponsored by Costco, and I’m not associated with Costco in any way outside of the membership I pay for. The goal of this post is simply to provide information that can help Costco members get the most value from their membership!

11 Hidden Costco Benefits And Membership Perks

1. Travel Deals

One of the Costco membership perks is that they partner with hotel chains, car rental companies, and cruise lines to offer great deals on travel. They find great group discounts and bulk savings and pass the deals on to their members, and they even have travel experts who will work with you to plan your perfect trip. And when you’re quoted a price for a travel deal, they include taxes and fees, so there are no surprises when it comes time to pay.

I’ve had great experiences renting cars through Costco, including for a family vacation to Hawaii a couple of years back. After a friend recommended that I look into options for car rentals through Costco, I was delighted to see that Costco’s price was less than half of what I was being quoted elsewhere online.

2. Prescription Drugs

Costco members can take advantage of the Member Prescription Program to get discounts on prescription medications. This is a great option for people who are uninsured or don’t receive prescription benefits through their health insurance. For more information about their Member Prescription Program, check out the Frequently Asked Questions page.

3. Hearing & Vision Exams

You can get an eye exam for a competitive price through Costco Optical. (The actual price varies by location, so call the Optical Department at your local Costco for current pricing information.) And, every Costco Hearing Aid Center offers hearing tests, follow-up appointments, and check-ups for free.

4. Discounted Gift Cards

Buying gift cards at Costco can save you quite a bit of money. It’s not unusual to see bulk deals on them, like two $50 gift cards for $79.99 or four $15 gift cards for $44.99. These deals make it affordable to stock up on gift cards to movie theaters, theme parks, performances, activities, and more to have on hand for quick Christmas or birthday gifts.

5. Insurance

Costco has partnered with CONNECT, powered by American Family Insurance, to offer discounted rates on home, auto, renters, and specialty insurance. These policies often offer additional benefits for Executive Members too, like roadside assistance, lockout assistance, and more. Get a free quote for CONNECT insurance policies through Costco at this link.

6. Gas & Tires

Many Costco locations have a Fuel Center where members can fill up their cars for a lower price than most gas stations. The fuel is rated as Top Tier, meaning it meets a high-quality standard and contains detergents that help keep your engine clean.

Costco members can also take advantage of the Tire Center. They frequently offer discounts and rebates on sets of four new tires, so if you ever need a complete set, make sure to check out what Costco has to offer. Their five-year Road Hazard Warranty is hard to beat, and it’s included on all tires they sell.

7. Tech Support

Costco Concierge Services offers free technical support on any kind of gadget you can buy at Costco. This includes laptops, printers, monitors, home theater systems, tablets, TVs, and even major appliances. For more information on Costco’s tech support services, click here.

8. Quality Meat & Seafood

If I ever need to buy an expensive cut of meat, like our traditional Christmas prime rib for instance, I head to Costco to get it. I know that in terms of quality, I’m always going to get the most bang for my buck from their Meat & Seafood departments, and I’ve found that the associates are always willing to answer my questions or help me with any requests I have.

(And if you aren’t already aware, Costco’s $5.99 rotisserie chickens are consistently one of the best deals available in the entire store. It’s one of my go-to easy and affordable dinner shortcuts!)

Related: 20 Quick Recipes You Can Make With Rotisserie Chicken

9. Floral Delivery

You may have already bought flowers at Costco, but did you know you can get them delivered as well? Prices start at just $42.99, including delivery fees! Check out Costco’s floral offerings here.

10. Quality Clothing

In addition to clothes from its own Kirkland Signature line, Costco also offers items from notable brands like Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Birkenstock, etc. for surprisingly great prices. Well-known brands like these will bring their unsold merchandise to Costco, which then sells them in stores and online at a more reasonable price point.

11. Global Access

Did you know your Costco membership is valid at any Costco around the world? This perk could be especially handy if you’re traveling and staying somewhere with a kitchen you can cook in. While shopping for groceries, you could also check out any discounted gift certificates they have for local restaurants or movie theaters!

BONUS: Do Member Benefits Differ By Membership Tier?

The basic membership option is a Gold Star Membership with a $60 annual fee, while the upgraded option, the Executive Membership, has a $120 annual fee. The main difference between these two tiers in terms of member benefits is that Executive Members earn an annual 2% Reward on qualifying Costco purchases, while Gold Star Members don’t. Otherwise, the benefits are largely the same!

What’s your favorite Costco service or product?