Costco Members Can Now Get Up to $5,000 Off an Audi Vehicle

Many people think of Costco as the retailer you visit when you want to buy potato chips or paper towels in bulk. But the reality is that Costco's services extend far beyond groceries and household goods.

For one thing, Costco's travel services offer members the opportunity to save money on a host of destinations and vacation packages. And Costco's pharmacy services often allow for big savings on prescriptions.

Costco also offers an auto program that helps members purchase vehicles -- a tough thing to do today given that so many cars are in short supply. Car prices are also up across the board due to shortages, so if you're in the market for a new vehicle, it's important to look for ways to trim your costs. And if you have your heart set on an Audi, buying it through Costco between now and October 2 might result in some major savings.

Members can save big time

Now through early October, Costco is offering member-only incentives on select Audi models. Most notably, you might qualify for a $5,000 member-only incentive on the Audi A8, S8, e-tron® GT, or RS e-tron® GT.

To take advantage of this offer, you'll need to register through Costco for a certificate with a unique promo code. You can then take that certificate -- either a printed version or a digital copy -- to any Audi dealership to receive either $1,000, $1,500, or $5,000 off of the price of your vehicle, depending on the model you're looking to buy.

Can you afford an Audi?

The name Audi is synonymous with luxury. So if you're an average earner looking for a new car so you can get to and from work, then an Audi probably is not in the cards for you. But if you're a higher earner and it's important to you to have a nicer car, then you may find that an Audi is worth paying for.

That said, you'll need to crunch the numbers to see what you can swing. The Audi A8, for example, has a starting MSRP of $89,995. The exact price you'll pay for your Audi will depend on the model you choose, the features you opt for, and the dealer you work with. But all told, Audis are generally considered to be expensive cars, so you'll need to keep that in mind.

Also, buying an Audi could cause your auto insurance costs to skyrocket. Auto insurers set premium rates based on different factors, including the cost of your vehicle. So if you buy an almost-$90,000 car and you're currently driving a $45,000 car, you can expect your premium rates to rise quite a lot.

Plus, in some cases, pricier cars can also be more expensive to maintain. It's a good idea to do plenty of research before committing to an Audi.

Finally, do keep in mind that auto loan rates are up these days on the heels of the Federal Reserve's recent string of interest rate hikes. So if you're looking to finance your Audi, you may be in for a series of really high monthly car payments -- even if you're able to shave a few thousand dollars off your purchase price by buying your vehicle through Costco.