Veterans Day 2025 offers a wide array of freebies and discounts for U.S. veterans, active-duty military personnel, and in some cases, their families and spouses. These offers span various sectors, including dining, automotive services, retail, and personal care. The following guide details the specific promotions available based on official announcements and verified reports, outlining eligibility requirements, redemption methods, and participating locations.
Dining and Restaurant Offers
A significant portion of Veterans Day freebies centers on complimentary meals and food items at national and regional restaurant chains. Most dining offers are valid on November 11, 2025, though some require advance verification or specific ordering methods.
Verification and Sign-Up Requirements Several restaurants require customers to verify their military status prior to redemption. * Sonny’s BBQ: Veterans and active-duty military can receive a free Pork Big Deal (sandwich, side, and drink) on November 11. To redeem, customers must verify their status on the Sonny’s BBQ website and sign up for rewards by November 9. * Taco John’s: Located in Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin, Taco John’s offers a Veterans Day special. Veterans and active-duty military must use a specific promo code available on the Taco John’s app to redeem the offer. * Luna Grill: Veterans in California and Texas can receive a free entrée by presenting an offer available through the Luna Grill app.
Dine-In and Carry-Out Policies Many offers are restricted to dine-in service, while others allow takeout. * Dine-In Only: Several chains, including Shoney’s (free breakfast bar or All-American Burger), California Pizza Kitchen (free entrée and drink), On the Border (free Choose Two Combo), Uno’s Pizzeria & Grill (free entrée), and Ninety-Nine Restaurant & Pub (free lunch entrée with purchase), specify that offers are valid for dine-in only. * Carry-Out and Drive-Thru: Starbucks offers a free tall brewed coffee (hot or iced) valid for café and drive-thru orders. Buffalo Wild Wings provides free boneless wings and fries for both dine-in and takeout at participating U.S. locations. Sonny’s BBQ accepts orders placed on November 11 for carry-out or dine-in.
Specific Meal Offers by Chain * Full Meals: Texas Roadhouse offers a free meal from a selected menu from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Chili’s Grill & Bar and Olive Garden provide free entrées from special menus. Lucille’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que (Arizona, California, Nevada) offers a free meal from a choice of entrees. Thirsty Lion (Arizona, Colorado, Oregon, Texas) and Tuscan Brands restaurants allow veterans to eat free during specified hours (11 a.m.–3 p.m. for Tuscan Brands). * Breakfast Items: Denny’s offers a free Build Your Own Grand Slam breakfast from 5 a.m. Village Inn provides a free 2-2-2 Breakfast (2 eggs, 2 bacon strips or sausage links, 2 pancakes) all day. Shoney’s offers a free breakfast fresh food bar until 11 a.m. * Snacks and Lighter Fare: Wienerschnitzel offers a free Original Chili Dog, Small Fries, and Small Soda. White Castle provides a free individual combo meal or breakfast combo meal. TCBY offers the first 6 ounces of froyo free. Smoothie King offers a free 20-ounce red, white, or blue smoothie from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Nekter Juice Bar offers a free 16-ounce fresh juice or superfood smoothie.
Regional and Multi-State Offers * Southeast: Sonny’s BBQ (Southeast) offers the free Pork Big Deal. * Midwest: Casey’s General Store offers free coffee on November 11. Max & Erma’s (Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania) offers 25% off. * Texas: Silver Fox Steakhouse offers a discount. * Arizona, Colorado, Oregon, Texas: Thirsty Lion offers free eating. * California, Texas: Luna Grill offers a free entrée. * New Jersey, Pennsylvania: MOD Pizza offers a special offer (separate from the 50% off offer available nationally). * Arizona, Illinois, Texas: Native Grill & Wings offers a free item from a special selection (price limit).
Exclusive Offers for Specific Groups * Starbucks extends its free coffee offer to veterans, active-duty military, reservists, and military spouses. * MOD Pizza offers 50% off a MOD-size pizza or salad for veterans, active-duty military, and spouses.
Automotive and Car Wash Services
Automotive discounts focus heavily on free car washes, with a few retailers offering parts or service discounts.
Free Car Washes * Autobell Car Wash: Veterans and servicemembers receive a free Ride-Thru Exterior wash (or equivalent credit) on November 11 at all locations in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware. No coupon or ID is required. If it rains on November 11, the offer is honored on November 12. * PDQ: All eight PDQ Car Wash locations offer a free Elite exterior car wash on November 11, plus a 50% off coupon for a future Elite Wash. * Waters Car Wash & Russell Speeder's Car Wash: Free car washes are available to all veterans and active-duty military personnel on November 11. * General Offer: A source indicates a free car wash is available at any location, though the specific brand is not named in that snippet.
Parts and Service Discounts * AutoNation: Offers a 20% discount in-store from November 10 to November 15.
Retail and Shopping Discounts
Retail offers for Veterans Day 2025 include percentage discounts on clothing, electronics, and home goods, as well as specific product promotions.
Apparel and Footwear * Rack Room Shoes: Servicemembers and their families receive 20% off their entire in-store purchase with valid ID on November 11. They can save 10% the rest of the year. * Academy Sports: Servicemembers and first responders get 10% off in-store and online from October 19 to November 11. * Ojos Locos Sports Cantina: Offers 20% off all food items for veterans and active-duty military at all locations.
Electronics and Technology * Samsung: Through the Samsung Military Offers Program, individuals with a .mil email address can sign up to receive up to 30% off phones, tablets, smartwatches, and more on Samsung.com. This includes recent models like the Galaxy Z Fold7, Galaxy Watch8, Galaxy Z Flip7, and the Galaxy S25 Series.
Home Goods and Furniture * LoveSac: Offers 40% off a modular couch or chair through November 6 with a verified military ID. * The InActive Company: Offers 30% off and free shipping from November 11 to November 12 using code VETERAN30.
Food and Beverage Retail * Casey’s General Store: For the month of November, $1 is donated for every online or in-app purchase of a large pizza and two-liter Pepsi brand drink to organizations supporting disabled veterans and military families.
Personal Care and Services
Personal care offers range from free haircuts to discounts on food orders for families.
Hair Care * Great Clips: Veterans and active-duty servicemembers can visit a salon on November 11 to receive either a free haircut that day or a free haircut card for future use. Non-military customers receiving a haircut on Veterans Day will receive a free haircut card to give to a service member or veteran. * NEWSTYLE SALONS: Green Bay and Appleton salons offer free haircuts to veterans. Walk-ins are accepted, but bookings are subject to stylist availability. Locations include Green Bay, Appleton, Greenville, Bellevue, De Pere, and Suamico.
Food Service Family Offers * Tender Greens: Veterans and their family members (up to 8 people) receive 50% off any order on Tuesday, November 11.
Conclusion
Veterans Day 2025 provides numerous opportunities for veterans and active-duty military personnel to access free meals, car washes, and retail discounts. Redemption typically requires proof of service, such as a military ID, or verification through brand apps and websites. While many offers are valid solely on November 11, specific promotions, such as those from LoveSac and Autobell Car Wash, have extended dates or rain date policies. Consumers are advised to check individual brand websites for participating location details and specific terms and conditions.