Can you use expired coupons? The answer is yes — well, sometimes. It depends on the store, type of coupon, and the cashier.
There are quite a few stores that are well known for either accepting old coupons or at least finding you a replacement. Just remember that accepting expired coupons isn’t required for most of these places, so the trick is to be nice, and if you get a no, leave it at that.
Also, a good rule of thumb is that pretty much nowhere accepts expired manufacturer coupons. That’s because the store can’t get reimbursed from the manufacturer if it’s expired. So focus on store coupons. Those are the ones issued directly by the retailer, and they tend to have a bit more leniency. We can also show you where to get coupons, if you’re on the hunt for some.
Stores That Generally Accept Expired Coupons
1. Albertsons/Safeway (With a Rain Check)
While the standard Albertsons/Safeway coupon policy doesn’t allow them to accept expired coupons, there’s an exception if you ask for a rain check. With a valid rain check, you’ll be able to claim the sale price with the store coupon factored in, even if the coupon has expired.
Just note that Albertsons/Safeway rain checks are only valid for 30 days, and they don’t apply to things like beer, wine, or any fluids in the refrigerated dairy section.
2. Burger King
Most Burger King franchise locations are all about the customer, meaning they often won’t even bother to look at the expiration date on a Burger King coupon.
If you’re ordering in the drive-thru, just make sure you mention your coupons as you’re ordering your food (don’t wait until you get to the window).
3. Chipotle
Some Chipotle coupons, like a buy one get one free burrito offer, will still register when the associate scans them, even if they’re expired. Usually, they’ll work for up to a few days after their expiration date, but your mileage may vary depending on the store.
4. Culver's
I'm always getting Culver's store coupons with my Sunday coupon inserts, and it turns out that many Culver's locations will still honor expired coupons if you ask. Whether or not they'll accept your coupon is up to the store manager.
5. CVS (With a Rain Check)
If you ask for a rain check on a CVS item that’s out of stock, you’ll be able to claim the sale price WITH the CVS store coupon value factored in, even if the coupon is expired by the time you redeem it
The same goes for ExtraBucks; just make sure you ask for ExtraBucks to be included on your rain check if they apply.
6. Dick’s Sporting Goods
Dick’s Sporting Goods often gives out percentage coupons such as 20% off. If your coupon has expired, ask if the cashier will accept it. Sometimes they’ll honor it or even offer you a valid coupon in its place.
For example, one KCL team member reports that their son’s football league gives out a 20% off DSG coupon that expires at the end of August. But their Dick’s location still lets them use that coupon all the way through October.
7. JCPenney
JCPenney’s official policy is to refuse coupons past their date. But cashiers are encouraged to offer customers who present an expired coupon with a new one that isn’t expired.
They most likely won’t do this for you if you don’t actually show them your expired coupon, though, so it pays to have it with you and pull it out.
8. Kroger
Like many other stores, Kroger’s coupon policy states that coupons must be valid in order to use them. Fortunately for us, they have “Make It Right,” which gives cashiers a little bit of leeway to alter prices (within a few dollars or so). Your mileage may vary, but under this guarantee, they may be willing to accept an expired coupon. It’s worth a try, especially for the dollar off coupons in their weekly ad.
We can teach you even more advanced techniques for couponing at Kroger.
9. Lowe’s
Lowe’s doesn’t have an official coupon policy on their website, but some cashiers have honored coupons that are up to seven days past their expiration date.
10. Military Commissaries (Overseas)
Commissaries outside of the U.S. will take manufacturer coupons up to six months past their expiration date, as stated on the policy FAQ page.
If you live in the U.S., you can send your coupons to them through Troopons, which is a program that collects and sends coupons to military bases around the world.
11. Old Navy (Super Cash Only, Via Rewards Points)
If you miss the redemption window to use your Old Navy Super Cash, you can actually turn that expired cash into points via their rewards program. Granted, your rewards points won’t be worth as much as the original Super Cash, but it’s still something.
12. Petco
While Petco doesn’t officially accept expired coupons, a lot of locations will still take expired store coupons, like $5 off a purchase of $25 or more. This isn’t a given, but it’s definitely worth asking.
KCL TIP: Some manufacturer coupons have a few days’ grace period, so it’s worth still trying to use them if they just expired.
13. PetSmart
PetSmart has been known to accept their own dollar-off or percentage-off coupons up to six months after they expire. They won’t accept expired manufacturer coupons, though.
14. Publix (With a Rain Check)
According to the fine print of the Publix rain check policy, these grocery stores will accept expired coupons with a rain check as long as the coupons were valid on the date the rain check was issued.
15. Staples
Staples‘ official coupon policy states that they won’t take expired coupons, but like many other stores, the associates may be willing to make an exception if you ask. Or they may reissue or reprint a new coupon instead.
Item coupons like 20% off any single kitchen appliance can only be used on full-price items. If you have a coupon for a specific item and the product is already on clearance, regardless of the expiration date, you won’t be able to use that coupon.
16. Subway
Similar to other fast food restaurants, some Subway locations may take expired coupons if the scanner accepts them. It’s usually up to the owner or manager, so it pays to be polite when asking.
“Many of the coupons are rotating coupons,” said one Reddit commenter on a Subway thread. That means the store could issue you a new coupon right on the spot, if one’s available.
17. Taco Bell
According to multiple Reddit threads I reviewed (including this one and this one), most Taco Bell locations are pretty lenient about accepting expired coupons, especially if it’s a coupon for a free item — like the ones you might get in exchange for a negative in-store experience.
“When I worked at Taco Bell, we were trained to honor the coupons anyways,” said one commenter.
Stores That Stopped Accepting Expired Coupons (But It Still Doesn’t Hurt to Ask)
Bath & Body Works
Bath & Body Works stores used to have a 3-day grace period that would allow you to use your B&BW mailer coupons three days after the coupon’s valid date — and we loved this perk! Unfortunately, that ended in a directive from the corporate offices in early 2020. Some readers have had their stores accept them, so it never hurts to ask, but assume the flexibility is gone.
But just because this perk has ended doesn’t mean your savings have to. If you want all the hacks to save at Bath & Body Works, we have them.
Bed Bath & Beyond Home Stores
If you happen to live near one of the handful of new Bed Bath & Beyond Home stores opening in 2025 - 2026, you may be able to use your old 20% off one item Bed Bath & Beyond coupons in-store for a limited time, as reported by some news outlets. Bed Bath & Beyond’s usual rule for coupons still applies: one coupon per item, and you can't reuse the same coupon.
Kohl’s (Kohl’s Cash)
Kohl’s won’t take coupons past their expiration date, but some stores used to accept expired Kohl’s Cash up to 10 days after it expired. Unfortunately, that policy has changed, and now their official policy says that you can't use expired Kohl's Cash.
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