Quick Summary:
- Look for “Excess”, “Deductible” or “Customer liability” in the charges section.
- Check the LDW/CDW box line, then read the adjacent liability amount.
- Scan the small print for “loss of use” and “administration fees”.
- Confirm the currency, per-claim limits, and whether amounts vary by vehicle.
When you pick up a car hire vehicle in Florida, the quickest way to avoid surprise costs is to locate the CDW/LDW excess, also called the deductible, before you sign. This is the amount you can still be responsible for if the car is damaged or stolen, even when a waiver product is included. The difficulty is that Florida hire agreements are often designed around desk systems and abbreviations, so the excess is not always labelled in plain English.
This guide explains exactly where the excess is usually shown on the paperwork you are asked to sign in Florida, what headings to look for, and which contract terms commonly disguise the real figure. The goal is not to interpret legal fine print for you, but to help you find the numbers and the wording that matter while you still have the chance to ask for clarification.
First, know what you are trying to find
On Florida car hire paperwork you will typically see CDW, LDW, or both. These are commonly presented as “waivers” rather than “insurance”, and they often reduce your financial responsibility rather than eliminate it. The excess is the remaining amount that can be charged to you if a covered event happens, subject to exclusions.
In US-style agreements, the excess can be described using different labels. Before you look at the contract, remember the most common synonyms:
Excess, Deductible, Customer liability, Renter responsibility, Damage liability, Maximum liability, or Out-of-pocket maximum. Your job at the desk is to find the clause or line item where one of these labels is paired with a currency amount.
Where the excess usually appears on a Florida hire agreement
Most Florida rental desks print a short rental jacket or agreement summary, sometimes with additional terms on the back or in a separate booklet. The excess can appear in more than one place. You should check all of the following areas, because the first page may show that a waiver is accepted, while the detailed liability amount is tucked elsewhere.
1) The “Coverages” or “Waivers” section on the front page
Look for a grid or list with items such as LDW, CDW, SLI, PAI/PEC, Roadside, Fuel. Next to LDW/CDW there may be a status like “Accepted”, “Declined”, or a daily price. The excess, if stated here, is often printed on the same line or directly underneath it in smaller text, for example “Deductible: $X” or “Maximum responsibility: $X”. If you only see that LDW/CDW is accepted, keep looking. Acceptance alone does not tell you the excess.
2) The “Charges”, “Estimated charges”, or “Rate summary” area
On some agreements, the excess is not within the waivers list, it is in a section describing what may be charged to your payment method. Look for phrases like “You authorise us to charge”, “Amounts you may owe”, or “Damage to vehicle”. The deductible can appear as a maximum amount under damage or theft, sometimes described as “up to” a stated figure.
3) The “Vehicle damage” or “Loss damage waiver terms” paragraph
This is usually the most reliable place to find the number. It may be a paragraph with multiple clauses and may include theft as well as damage. The line you want often reads like “If LDW is accepted, your responsibility is limited to…” followed by a figure, or a statement that your responsibility is “zero” for certain vehicle classes only. If the paragraph references an attached schedule, that is a sign the number is in another document.
4) A separate “Summary of protections” or “Important information” sheet
Some desk systems print a second page explaining coverages. This is where deductible amounts are sometimes displayed more clearly, especially when they vary by car group. If the staff hands you more than one sheet, check all of them before signing, not just the page with the signature box.
5) The back page or incorporated terms booklet
Many hire agreements say that additional terms are “incorporated by reference”. If your paperwork references “rental terms and conditions”, the deductible may be stated there, along with exclusions. If you cannot locate the deductible number anywhere in what you were given, ask the desk to show you the specific line where your maximum damage responsibility is stated.
The terms that most often disguise the excess
Even when the agreement contains the deductible, the label can hide what you are actually looking at. These are the headings and phrases that often cause people to miss the excess amount on Florida car hire paperwork.
“Customer liability”
This is frequently the deductible. It might be written as a cap rather than called an excess, for example “customer liability is limited to $X”. If you see a “liability” amount near LDW/CDW wording, treat it as the excess unless the text clearly says otherwise.
“Damage responsibility” or “Renter responsibility”
This is another common substitute. It may be printed as a maximum amount per incident. Verify whether the wording applies to collision damage, theft, or both.
“Loss damage waiver is not insurance”
This sentence is normal in many US contracts. The important part is what follows it, because the deductible limitation often appears immediately after. Do not stop reading once you see this statement.
“Up to the value of the vehicle”
If you see wording that suggests you could be responsible up to the full value, that usually means the waiver is declined or does not apply. In that case there may be no deductible figure at all, because your responsibility is potentially far higher. This is a key red flag to spot before you sign.
“Exceptions” and “Exclusions”
An agreement may state a deductible, but also list scenarios where the waiver is void. Typical examples include unauthorised drivers, prohibited roads, or breach of the contract. When the waiver is void, the deductible limit may not apply, and the “up to the value of the vehicle” wording becomes relevant.
Check whether the deductible is per claim, per incident, or per day
When you find a number, confirm what it is measuring. Some agreements treat the deductible as per incident, others apply it per claim. If the wording is unclear, look for “each occurrence”, “each accident”, or “per loss”. If you extend a rental or swap vehicles, confirm whether the deductible changes with the new agreement or vehicle class.
Also confirm whether the deductible differs for theft versus damage. Some paperwork shows a single amount, others split them. The split can be easy to miss if both are printed on the same line with abbreviations.
Don’t confuse the excess with the security deposit or card hold
A major source of confusion at Florida desks is mixing up the excess with the deposit. The deposit is a temporary authorisation on your payment card, often shown under “Deposit”, “Security hold”, or “Authorisation”. The excess is your potential financial responsibility if damage or theft occurs. They are different numbers and can be very different in size.
If the agreement shows a “Deposit” amount but no deductible, you still have not found what you need. Keep looking for the liability cap under LDW/CDW wording.
Fees that can increase what you pay beyond the excess
Even if your deductible is clearly stated, your total bill after an incident can include extra items that are not always constrained by the deductible in the way renters expect. Look for these terms around the damage section:
“Loss of use”
This can mean the rental company charges for the period the vehicle is unavailable. Some agreements allow it in addition to the deductible. Check whether the contract states that loss of use is included within the maximum liability or added on top.
“Diminished value”
This refers to reduced resale value after repairs. If it is mentioned, clarify whether it is capped or part of the deductible limit.
“Administrative fee” or “Processing fee”
These fees can appear as fixed amounts or “reasonable” charges. The key point is whether they are treated as separate from the deductible. If they are separate, your out-of-pocket cost can exceed the deductible figure.
Towing, storage, and impound fees
These can be listed in a general charges authorisation section and may not be described next to LDW/CDW. They matter because they can appear even when the damage itself is within the deductible.
Where this shows up when picking up in popular Florida locations
The layout of paperwork varies by provider and desk system, but the same principles apply at major Florida hubs. If you are collecting near Miami, you will often receive a short agreement with a waiver line and then a dense paragraph of terms where the deductible is defined. If you want to compare options before travel, Hola Car Rentals has location pages that help you understand what to expect from different pick-up points, such as car rental at Miami (MIA) and minivan rental in Florida via Miami.
For the Orlando area, the contract structure is often similar, but vehicle categories and add-ons can differ, which can change the liability figures. If you are planning a larger vehicle, you can review typical rental setups for families through van rental near Disney Orlando (MCO).
In Tampa, you may see the deductible described as “customer responsibility” or “maximum liability” rather than “excess”. If you want to familiarise yourself with the pick-up environment and common provider formats, see National car rental in Tampa (TPA).
For Doral pick-ups, agreements can include add-ons and waivers in a grid plus a separate page of terms. If you are comparing provider paperwork styles, you can look at Payless car rental in Doral (DRL). Whichever desk you use, the same rule holds: do not sign until you can point to the exact line that states your maximum damage or theft responsibility with LDW/CDW in place.
A desk-side checklist for finding the excess before signing
Use this quick process while the paperwork is in front of you:
Step 1: Find the LDW/CDW line. Confirm whether it is accepted or declined, and whether there is a daily cost.
Step 2: Search for a liability label. Look for “deductible”, “excess”, “customer liability”, “responsibility”, or “maximum”. The number is often next to these words, not next to the price.
Step 3: Confirm it applies to your vehicle class. Some agreements refer to a schedule or vary by car group. Make sure your exact group is covered by the stated amount.
Step 4: Check what can be added on top. Scan for loss of use, diminished value, and admin fees, and whether they are inside or outside the cap.
Step 5: Verify currency and units. Ensure the figure is in USD and whether it is per incident, per claim, or per rental.
If any step fails, ask the representative to show you where the agreement states the deductible for collision damage and theft with the waiver you have selected. You are not asking for a general explanation, you are asking to be shown the exact line and amount.
FAQ
Where on the agreement is the CDW/LDW excess most likely printed?
Most commonly, it is in the LDW/CDW terms paragraph or a “vehicle damage” section, sometimes on the second page or reverse side rather than beside the waiver price.
What wording should I look for if “excess” is not used?
Look for “deductible”, “customer liability”, “renter responsibility”, “maximum liability”, or “damage responsibility”, followed by a currency amount.
Is the security deposit the same as the excess?
No. The deposit is a card authorisation shown as “deposit” or “security hold”. The excess is the amount you could owe after damage or theft, based on the contract terms.
Can I still pay more than the stated excess?
Potentially, yes. Some agreements allow extra items such as loss of use, diminished value, towing, storage, or administration fees, which may be listed separately from the deductible cap.
What should I do if I cannot find any excess amount on the paperwork?
Ask the desk to point out the exact clause that states your maximum responsibility for damage and theft with LDW/CDW, and do not sign until you can verify the figure.
