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Veterans Day 2026 | Rising Star Program
The Mercedes-Benz Rising Star Program gives first-time buyers, active military, students and recent graduates a path to approval, now with a $1,000 Customer Bonus for qualifying contracts.
Yes. Mercedes-Benz Financial Services offers four Rising Star approval paths for customers with limited or emerging credit: First-Time Buyer, Military, Student and College Graduate. As of November 3, 2026, eligible customers who lease or finance an eligible new Mercedes-Benz or eligible prior courtesy vehicle through Mercedes-Benz Financial Services under one of these programs may also receive a $1,000 Customer Bonus.*
This Veterans Day, Mercedes-Benz of Music City wants to thank the men and women who serve. If you are actively serving in the U.S. military, Reserve or National Guard and have a limited automotive credit history, the Rising Star Military program reviews your application on your own record, verifies your status with a view-only ID check, and now includes a $1,000 Customer Bonus on eligible leases and purchases through Mercedes-Benz Financial Services.*
Separated from service? The Military program is for active status, but veterans and family members may still qualify under the First-Time Buyer or College Graduate program below, and may be able to use the USAA and credit union programs described next. Ask our finance team which path fits.
Rising Star is one path. If you are a current or former service member, or an eligible family member, your USAA or credit union membership may open another. Mercedes-Benz of Music City is a participating dealership for the USAA Car Buying Service, and we work with Navy Federal Credit Union and PenFed Credit Union members every day.
Eligible USAA members in good standing may qualify for a Mercedes-Benz member vehicle incentive on select new models. Bring your printed USAA Member Vehicle Incentive Program form with the incentive amount and control number, or ask us to help you request it when you visit. One incentive per member per calendar year, applied at the time of purchase or lease.**
Navy Federal members can use their credit union’s car buying service and auto financing on new and pre-owned Mercedes-Benz models with us. Bring your pre-approval or member certificate and our finance team will coordinate the paperwork with your credit union.
PenFed members can bring a PenFed pre-approval or car buying service certificate to Mercedes-Benz of Music City for new and pre-owned Mercedes-Benz models. We will walk you through how your membership benefits apply to the vehicle you choose.
USAA, Navy Federal Credit Union and PenFed Credit Union programs are offered by those organizations and are separate from the Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Rising Star Program. Whether a membership incentive can be combined with Rising Star or other Mercedes-Benz offers depends on current program compatibility rules. Ask our finance team before you sign so you know exactly which benefits apply.
Most lenders look for a track record of car payments before they say yes. If you have never financed a vehicle, you have spent the last few years in uniform, you are a student here on a visa, or you just graduated and started your career, your credit file can look thin even when you pay everything on time. That often means a denial or a rate that does not reflect how responsible you are. Rising Star was built for exactly this situation.
Instead of relying only on an automotive credit score, Mercedes-Benz Financial Services reviews your application under one of four programs. You provide proof of income and the documents for your program, our finance team submits the file to a Retail Credit Analyst for review, and if approved you lease or finance through Mercedes-Benz Financial Services. The next step is simple: contact Mercedes-Benz of Music City and tell us which program fits you.
Beginning November 3, 2026, customers approved under any of the four Rising Star programs who enter a qualifying Mercedes-Benz Financial Services lease or retail finance contract on an eligible new Mercedes-Benz, or an eligible prior courtesy vehicle using new car programs, may receive a $1,000 Customer Bonus. The bonus is not available to all customers or on all vehicles, and it is separate from any advertised vehicle price or featured lease payment. Our finance team will confirm eligibility before your contract is finalized.*
All four programs apply to Mercedes-Benz vehicles only and require proof of income. Here is how they compare.
| Requirement | First-Time Buyer | Military | Student | College Graduate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Who it is for | Limited credit history, modest amount financed | Active U.S. military, Reserve or National Guard | Domestic and international students | Degree holders early in their careers |
| Vehicles | New or Certified Pre-Owned | Mercedes-Benz | Mercedes-Benz | Mercedes-Benz |
| Lease or finance | Both (lease on new only) | Both | Both | Both |
| $1,000 Customer Bonus* | Eligible new or prior courtesy vehicles | Eligible new or prior courtesy vehicles | Eligible new or prior courtesy vehicles | Eligible new or prior courtesy vehicles |
| Maximum amount financed or capitalized cost | $50,000 | $55,000 | $55,000 | $55,000 |
| Down payment required | No | No | 20% | No |
| Security deposit | No | No | 10% | No |
| Term limit | No | No | Cannot exceed student visa | No |
| Proof of income | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Student or graduate status | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| References required | Yes (three) | No | Yes | No |
| Proof of residency | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| 24 months clean credit history | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Payment-to-income limit | No | Not to exceed 20% of gross monthly income | No | No |
Clean credit history means no collection accounts and no credit lines over their limits. Credit history must be on accounts in your own name or held jointly; an account where you are only an authorized user does not satisfy the requirement on its own, though Mercedes-Benz Financial Services will consider joint accounts with a spouse and, at your request, authorized-user accounts you can show you paid.
Completing a checklist does not guarantee credit approval. All information must be provided before approval, and most Rising Star applications are reviewed by a Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Credit Analyst.
No. The bonus is available to eligible customers approved under any of the four Rising Star programs who enter a qualifying Mercedes-Benz Financial Services lease or retail finance contract dated on or after November 3, 2026, on an eligible new Mercedes-Benz or eligible prior courtesy vehicle. It is not available to all customers or on all vehicles.
The Military program is for customers actively serving in the U.S. military, Reserve or National Guard. If you have separated from service, you may still qualify under the First-Time Buyer or College Graduate program, depending on your credit history and documentation. Our finance team can help you choose the right path.
Possibly. Rising Star is a Mercedes-Benz Financial Services approval program, while USAA, Navy Federal and PenFed benefits come from those organizations. Some can be used together and some cannot, depending on current compatibility rules and how you finance. Bring your membership documents and our finance team will show you which combination works for your vehicle.
No. Your ID is checked in person, view-only. We do not copy, scan, photograph, upload or keep it.
The First-Time Buyer program covers both new and Certified Pre-Owned vehicles, but leasing under that program is available on new vehicles only. The $1,000 Customer Bonus applies to eligible new vehicles and eligible prior courtesy vehicles using new car programs.
Not by itself. The 24-month history must be on accounts in your name or held jointly. Mercedes-Benz Financial Services will consider accounts you share with a spouse and, at your request, any authorized-user account you can show you actually paid.
The Rising Star Customer Bonus may be combined with other incentives only where the current Mercedes-Benz Financial Services program compatibility rules allow. It cannot be used to reduce an advertised vehicle price or featured lease payment. Ask our finance team how it applies to the vehicle you choose.
No. Every Rising Star application is subject to Mercedes-Benz Financial Services credit approval and the applicable program guidelines.
Start your application online or contact Mercedes-Benz of Music City, tell us which program fits you, and our finance team will walk you through the documents and submit your application.
*$1,000 Customer Bonus available to eligible customers who qualify under an approved Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Rising Star Program customer profile (First-Time Buyer, Student, College Graduate, or Military) and enter into a qualifying lease or retail finance contract with Mercedes-Benz Financial Services. Available on eligible new Mercedes-Benz vehicles and eligible Ex-CVP vehicles utilizing New Car Programs. All contracts are subject to Mercedes-Benz Financial Services credit approval and applicable program requirements. First-Time Buyer, College Graduate, and Military profiles require at least 24 months of established credit history with no derogatory credit. Amount financed or capitalized cost may not exceed $50,000 (First-Time Buyer) or $55,000 (all other profiles). Student profile requires a down payment and security deposit. Offer effective for qualifying contracts dated on or after November 3, 2026, and available until further notice. Program may be modified or discontinued at any time, subject to applicable law. See participating authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer for complete details. May not be combined with other special offers except where specified. Offer may not be used to reduce the dealer’s advertised vehicle price or featured lease payment. See Mercedes-Benz of Music City for additional details. Not everyone will qualify.
**Mercedes-Benz only offers special incentives to persons eligible for membership in USAA Property and Casualty Insurance Group who are in good standing with USAA. P&C membership is generally available to current and former members of the U.S. Military and their former dependents. There is no obligation to purchase or continue USAA products or services to obtain the offers. Offers available from manufacturers are limited time purchase price incentives through participating dealers. See your dealer for more details. Mercedes-Benz requires a printed USAA Member Vehicle Incentive Program (EAB) form from the USAA Car Buying Service with incentive amount and control number. Mercedes-Benz incentive amounts may vary by model year and model and are restricted to one incentive per member number per calendar year. The incentive must be used at time of purchase/lease. Purchaser granted control number must be the buyer/co-buyer or lessee/co-lessee. Fleet incentives cannot be used in conjunction with Diplomat, European Delivery, Courtesy Vehicle Program (CVP) vehicle that has not met the minimum service requirement, Special Demos, certificate programs, control number programs, other Fleet Programs (Corporate Sales or Fleet Employee Program (FEP)), or non-U.S. specification vehicles. Fleet incentives available for qualified customers only. Navy Federal Credit Union and PenFed Credit Union car buying and financing programs are offered by those credit unions, subject to their membership and credit requirements; Mercedes-Benz of Music City is not affiliated with USAA, Navy Federal Credit Union or PenFed Credit Union.
