Costco offers a wide variety of items at wholesale. This is on top of a host of benefits. If you pay for a Costco membership you may be wondering if the benefits extend to auto services. If they do you should know what options are available and at what cost.
So, what auto services does Costco offer? Costco only offers a few auto services directly. Most of the services they offer are through preferred service centers. Their third-party partners offer services such as car sales, tire replacement, and repairs to name a few.
So that you know everything you can take advantage of, let’s go over what auto services Costco offers. From discounted gas to discounted auto insurance there are a lot of options.
Table of Contents
Gas Stations
The most basic auto service that Costco offers takes the form of gas stations. These stations are usually found nearby Costco warehouses. The benefit of these over-competing gas stations is that Costco Gas often has better prices.
Costco prides itself on providing high-quality gas with fuel detergent additions.
This service is restricted to Costco members with one exception. Owners of a Costco Shop Card can also use these gas stations without being a member.
The price of this service depends on regional gas prices. Though typically cheaper than other gas stations, they cannot deviate too far from the regional prices without taking a loss.
Auto Repair
When your vehicle needs maintenance or repairs, you can take it to Costco’s preferred service locations for a discount on most repairs. At their partner service locations, you can use a member-exclusive coupon for 15% off capped at $500.
The coupon can be reused, but only once per visit. All you need to do is go to this website to find a partnered location and print off the coupon.
Unfortunately, you can’t use the coupon on any already discounted services. It is for this reason that they do not allow you to use it on oil changes, airbags, or tires.
Auto Parts
Auto parts such as tires, batteries, motor oil, cleaning supplies, and other auto accessories are available both in-store and online. While not a service in and of itself, these products are available at great prices for DIY service.
Most of these products will be available in the store at all times. However, some products are only available online. The products that are only available online tend to be the large ones that aren’t easy to store on location.
The prices of these items will vary greatly depending on what it is. For example, motor oil can range from $30 to $80. Most of the available parts will be priced at a discount compared to non-Costco prices. This is particularly true for their tires.
Tire Shipping/Installation
When ordering tires, Costco offers an installation package that comes with extra benefits. Before the installation package, all shipping and handling costs are included in the retail price. However, you won’t get the benefits such as the lifetime maintenance service.
This package is specific to the tires you purchase. As long as you use these tires, you can get rotations, inflation checks, tire balancing, and repairs should you get a flat, all for free. Additionally, any time they inflate your tires, they will use nitrogen instead of compressed air.
The price of this service is $18.99 per tire. This is, of course, on top of the price for each tire. When you order tires through Costco, you will have 14 days after they arrive to have them installed.
Purchasing A Car Through Costco
If you’re in the market for a new or used car, you can go through Costco for a special member-only price. Like the auto repair service, Costco does not directly sell cars. Instead, they work with dealerships across the US to offer great deals to their members.
This system is quite simple to navigate with only three steps. First, research the make and model of the vehicle you’re looking for. Next, find a partner dealership and contact them. Lastly, review the member-only price and decide whether you want the vehicle.
These steps are relatively the same between new and used cars. On average, you will be able to find a deal for $1,000 less than the going rate for the vehicle. This service is free to Costco members as a part of the Costco Auto Program.
Rental Car Discounts
If you are in need of a temporary vehicle for whatever reason, you can find rental cars through Costco Travel. Costco partners with several rental car companies such as Enterprise and Avis to provide their members with discounts on rental vehicles.
Using this service, you can find rental vehicles based on pick-up location and time. When you’ve found the rental vehicle for you, your Costco discount will have already been applied. This discount is available across the US through Enterprise, Avis, Alamo, and Budget.
When you order a rental through the website, you won’t have to worry about any cancellation fees. As long as you have a valid Costco membership, Costco Travel is not an extra fee. It will be a separate registration, however.
Auto insurance
Whether you bought your car through Costco or not, you can insure it with Costco’s insurance brand CONNECT. This insurance brand, formerly known as Ameriprise Auto and Home Insurance, offers discounts and perks to all Costco members, with additional perks for Executive members.
Under CONNECT, you will receive free windshield repairs, easy claims service, and roadside assistance. Non-executive members will need to add roadside assistance as it is not included by default.
In addition to car insurance, CONNECT can also provide coverage for your home or condo at the discounted Costco rate. This coverage may include identity theft protection, credit card theft, check fraud, and food spoilage protection.
Car Washes
Lastly, it’s worth noting that select Costco locations offer car wash services. As of now, there are 14 Costco locations across the US that have car washes, primarily in Arizona, California, Idaho, Tennessee, and Washington, with the majority being in California.
These car wash services typically include external wash and wax, an undercarriage wash, and a ceramic protective coat. To access these car washes, you will need a Costco membership, in addition to the cost of the wash itself. The price of the wash is generally around $8.
The car washes are typically on par with premium car wash services found at other locations, and they operate 7 days a week at the designated Costco locations.
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Conclusion
Overall, Costco offers a range of auto services that can help you save money and enjoy various perks. To access these benefits, you’ll need at least a Gold Star membership (with some services requiring an Executive membership).
Considering the basic membership fee of $60 per year, it’s important to take advantage of at least that amount in discounts to make the membership worthwhile. With the array of auto services mentioned above, it should be relatively easy to do so.
Remember to keep these services in mind and consider Costco for your next auto service needs.