Thinking about joining AARP but wondering if it’s worth the investment? With membership costs that work out to just over a dollar per month, this organization offers one of the most comprehensive benefit packages available today. Whether you’re looking to save on travel, reduce your phone bill, or access valuable health resources, AARP membership often pays for itself with just one discount.

What AARP Membership Costs

AARP’s standard membership fee is $20 per year, but new members can join for just $15 during their first year when they sign up for automatic renewal. After that first year, your membership renews at the regular $20 rate. As an added bonus, new members often receive a welcome gift, such as charging hubs, packing cubes, or other useful items.

For better savings, AARP offers multi-year memberships that reduce your annual cost:

• Three-year membership: $55 total (8% savings off the annual rate)
• Five-year membership: $79 total (21% savings off the annual rate)

Here’s what makes the deal even sweeter: every membership includes a free second membership for anyone in your household. Your spouse, partner, or adult child living with you gets their own membership card and full access to all benefits at no additional cost.

Who Can Join AARP

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to be retired or even close to retirement age to join AARP. Anyone 18 or older can become a member and enjoy the full range of benefits. While AARP’s mission focuses on people 50 and older, younger members have access to virtually all the same discounts and services.

Some benefits, like certain insurance products, may have age restrictions due to legal requirements, but the vast majority of member perks are available regardless of your age.

Travel Benefits That Pay for Themselves

AARP’s travel discounts alone can easily cover your membership fee several times over.

Hotel and Accommodation Savings

Members receive up to 20% off hotels through the AARP Travel Center powered by Expedia. Major hotel chains including Wyndham brands (Days Inn, Howard Johnson, La Quinta, Ramada, Super 8, and others) offer 10% discounts to AARP members.

Car Rental Discounts

AARP members save up to 30% on car rentals with partners like Avis, Budget, and Payless. These companies also offer perks like free upgrades, discount credits on future rentals, and additional drivers at no extra cost, plus an additional $15 off three-day rentals paid in advance.

Cruise and Flight Savings

Cruise savings include up to $200 in onboard credits with select cruise lines. For air travel, AARP members receive $65 off round-trip economy flights or $200 off round-trip business class tickets with British Airways.

Phone Service Discounts

Your cell phone bill is probably one area where AARP membership can deliver immediate monthly savings.

AT&T provides AARP members $10 off per line on Unlimited Premium plans, plus waived activation and upgrade fees, and 15% off eligible wireless accessories. For families with multiple lines, this discount can add up to significant annual savings.

Consumer Cellular provides AARP members with 5% off monthly service and 30% off select accessories. Their talk, text, and data plans start at $20 per month per line with no long-term contracts required.

Dining and Entertainment Savings

AARP provides dining discounts at over 7,000 locations nationwide, with members saving up to 15% daily at national chains and local restaurants.

Beyond restaurants, members get exclusive access to cultural events and entertainment. Many local AARP chapters offer behind-the-scenes access to museums, discounted theater and opera tickets, plus free virtual events and online access to bestselling books.

Health and Wellness Benefits

AARP delivers valuable health-related discounts that can help you maintain your well-being while managing costs.

Members receive 20% off hearing aids through AARP Hearing Solutions, which also includes a free hearing exam. Vision care discounts are available for eyewear and eye exams, and there are savings on prescription medications.

The organization also gives you access to AARP-endorsed insurance options for medical, auto, property, and life coverage, often with competitive rates due to AARP’s large membership base.

AARP Rewards Program

AARP Rewards is a loyalty program that lets members earn points by completing activities and learning new things. Members earn 50% more points on challenging activities and get access to exclusive rewards like 8% off grocery gift cards and up to 25% off retail gift cards.

Publications and Resources

Your membership includes subscriptions to AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin, both packed with health tips, financial advice, and lifestyle content tailored to your interests. The advice and how-to columns alone cover topics like digitizing old home movies, tips to prevent falls, and ways to avoid germs at the gym. You can also explore comprehensive health resources covering everything from Medicare guidance to brain health tools.

How to Join AARP

Getting started with AARP membership is straightforward. You can sign up three ways:

• Online: Visit AARP.org for the fastest signup process
• By phone: Call 1-888-687-2277 to speak with a representative
• By mail: Request a paper application

When you sign up online, you’ll instantly receive a digital membership card that you can use right away. Your physical membership card will arrive in the mail within about three weeks.

Making the Most of Your Membership

To maximize your AARP benefits, download the free AARP Now app, available for both iOS and Android devices. The app gives you access to your digital membership card, exclusive discounts, and local event information. You can also explore AARP Rewards, where you can earn points for completing activities and redeem them for gift cards and special offers.

Consider setting up your membership preferences online to receive notifications about benefits that match your interests. Many members find it helpful to keep their membership card handy when shopping or dining out – you might be surprised how often businesses have AARP discounts even when they’re not widely advertised.

The Bottom Line on Value

Many members find that a single benefit covers the entire cost of membership. Whether it’s saving $120 annually on your phone bill, getting $50 off a hotel stay, or accessing discounted prescription medications, the math typically works in your favor.

With the ability to cancel anytime and no long-term commitment required, AARP membership offers a risk-free way to access hundreds of discounts and services. For many people, the question isn’t whether AARP membership is worth it, but rather why they waited so long to join.

Key Takeaways

• AARP membership costs $15 for the first year with automatic renewal, then $20 annually

• Anyone 18 or older can join, regardless of employment or retirement status

• Every membership includes a free second membership for a household member

• Travel discounts alone often cover the membership cost multiple times over

• Phone service discounts can provide monthly savings, especially for families with multiple lines

• Members save on dining, entertainment, health services, and prescription medications

• You can cancel your membership at any time with no penalties

• Digital membership card provides immediate access to benefits upon signup