Veterans Day annually provides an opportunity for businesses across the United States to express gratitude to military personnel through various complimentary services and discounts. Among the most sought-after offers are automotive services, specifically free oil changes and vehicle maintenance checks. Based on information available from 2018 promotional periods, numerous national and local businesses extended these benefits to active duty service members, veterans, and sometimes their families. While the specific dates and requirements varied by location and vendor, the general trend involved presenting valid proof of service on or around November 11 to receive these perks.
Automotive Maintenance and Oil Change Offers
In 2018, several automotive service providers and dealership networks offered free oil changes or significant discounts on maintenance services for military members.
Jiffy Lube Jiffy Lube locations in specific regions, such as East Idaho, offered free signature service oil changes to all veterans and active duty military personnel. This promotion was typically time-sensitive; for example, one listing specified the offer was available from 8 a.m. to noon on the Monday following Veterans Day. Generally, these types of offers required the presence of a valid military ID or other proof of service at the time of the transaction.
Garber Dealerships Garber Dealerships provided an opportunity for local veterans and active duty service members to receive free oil changes. In 2018, this offer was scheduled for November 9, slightly prior to the official Veterans Day holiday. As with dealership offers, availability likely depended on the specific location and required verification of military status.
Merlin Complete Auto Care Merlin Complete Auto Care extended a free oil change offer to active military members and veterans during a specific window in November 2018 (November 9 – 14). This service was available at participating centers, and proof of military identification was required to redeem the offer.
AutoNation AutoNation provided a discount on services rather than a completely free oil change. In 2018, they offered a 20% discount on all services at AutoNation-branded locations nationwide, as well as through their Mobile Service, from November 11 through November 16. While not a free oil change, this discount could significantly reduce the cost of routine maintenance.
Delta Sonic Delta Sonic offered savings on oil changes for veterans and active duty service members throughout the month of November in 2018. Participants could save $30 on any oil change, contingent upon presenting a valid military ID.
Goodyear Auto Service Goodyear Auto Service focused on vehicle safety checks during the 2018 Veterans Day period. They offered free tire, brake, battery, and fluid checks to ensure vehicles were in safe operating condition. Additionally, they provided a 10% discount on tires. These offers generally required an appointment to ensure service availability.
Broader Car Care and Service Discounts
Beyond oil changes, other businesses offered vehicle-related services to honor military members.
Car Washes Several companies offered free car washes as a gesture of appreciation. * Car Wash Express: In East Idaho, Car Wash Express provided free car washes to active duty military personnel and veterans on the Monday following Veterans Day in 2018. * Grace for Vets: This program offered free car washes to all veterans and active duty personnel on November 11, 2018. * Russell Speeder’s Car Wash: This chain offered free car washes to veterans and active duty service members during a three-day period from November 9 to 11, 2018. * Sheetz: Sheetz offered free car washes at participating locations on Veterans Day 2018, alongside other food and beverage promotions, requiring proof of service.
Tire and Battery Services * Goodyear Auto Service: As noted previously, Goodyear provided free safety checks including tires, brakes, and batteries.
Non-Automotive Freebies and Discounts (Contextual Reference)
While the primary focus of this inquiry is automotive services, the provided data highlights that Veterans Day freebies in 2018 extended well beyond car maintenance. To provide a complete picture of the types of offers available during that period, it is helpful to understand the broader landscape of complimentary goods and services.
Free Meals and Dining Restaurants were a major participant in Veterans Day promotions. Popular chains such as Applebee’s, Golden Corral, Red Lobster, and Texas Roadhouse offered free meals to veterans and active duty military personnel. Specific 2018 offers included: * Texas Roadhouse: Offered a free lunch from a special menu, including sides and a drink, on Veterans Day. * T.G.I. Friday’s: Provided a free menu item up to $12 for current military members and veterans. * Denny’s: Offered a free Build Your Own Grand Slam on November 12, 2018, from 5 a.m. to noon for active, inactive, and retired military personnel. * Sheetz: Provided a free lunch on Veterans Day at participating locations. * Ruby Tuesday’s: Offered a free appetizer (up to $10) at participating locations.
Personal Care Services * Great Clips: This national salon chain offered veterans and active duty service members a free haircut on Veterans Day or a free haircut card redeemable through the end of the year. Non-military customers could also receive a card to "pay it forward" to a service member.
Retail and Home Improvement Discounts * Home Depot: Offered a 10% discount to all veterans on November 11, 2018. * Target: Provided a 10% discount to active-duty military, veterans, and their families from October 31 through November 13, 2018. * Staples: Offered a 25% discount to active-duty personnel, reservists, retired or disabled veterans, and their immediate families from November 7 through 13, 2018.
Travel and Lodging * B&Bs for Vets: This program offered active duty service members and veterans free lodging for one night on or around Veterans Day at participating bed and breakfasts across the U.S. and Canada. * NY Waterway: Offered free ferry service on all routes for active duty military and veterans with valid ID in 2018.
Eligibility and Redemption Requirements
To successfully redeem these offers, consumers typically needed to adhere to specific eligibility criteria and redemption processes. While the exact requirements varied by vendor, the following general rules were prevalent in 2018:
Proof of Service Almost all Veterans Day freebies and discounts required some form of verification of military status. Acceptable documentation generally included: * Valid Military ID (e.g., CAC card, Dependent ID). * Veterans Organization Membership Card (e.g., VFW, American Legion). * Discharge Papers (DD214). * Other forms of government-issued photo identification that indicated veteran status, if accepted by the specific vendor.
Participation Status Most offers were extended to: * Active Duty Military Personnel. * Veterans (often defined as those who have served and been discharged under honorable conditions). * Retired Military Personnel. * In some cases, Reservists and National Guard members. * Occasionally, dependents of military personnel were included in discount programs, though free "freebie" items were usually reserved for the service member themselves.
Geographic and Location Restrictions Many offers were subject to "participating locations" clauses. National chains often allowed individual franchise owners or locations to decide whether to participate in Veterans Day promotions. Therefore, consumers were generally advised to call their local establishment to confirm participation before visiting. For example, offers from Ruby Tuesday’s, Texas Roadhouse, and T.G.I. Friday’s specifically noted that participation varied by location.
Timing Offers were strictly limited to specific dates. Some were valid only on Veterans Day (November 11), while others extended to the surrounding days or even the entire week (e.g., AutoNation’s November 11–16 discount window). Missing the specific date usually meant the offer was no longer valid.
Conclusion
In 2018, the landscape of Veterans Day freebies included a substantial variety of automotive services, specifically free oil changes and vehicle safety checks. Providers such as Jiffy Lube, Merlin Complete Auto Care, and Garber Dealerships extended these benefits directly to active duty and veteran military personnel. Additionally, a wide array of car washes offered complimentary cleaning services. These automotive offers were part of a larger ecosystem of gratitude that included free meals, retail discounts, and travel perks. For consumers seeking to utilize these offers, the universal requirement was the presentation of valid proof of military service, and verification of local participation was highly recommended due to the decentralized nature of many franchise offers.