Quick Summary:
- Check coverage tables for LDW/CDW status and any daily charge shown.
- Find SLI under Liability or Optional Coverages, then confirm charges.
- Identify excess by looking for deductible or customer responsibility amounts.
- Match accepted items to itemised charges, totals, and local taxes.
When you pick up a car hire in Orlando, the agreement can feel like a maze of abbreviations, boxes, and small print. The good news is that most rental contracts use a familiar layout. If you know which lines to scan first, you can confirm whether LDW/CDW, SLI, and the excess (often shown as a deductible) are included, declined, or added at the counter.
This guide focuses on where these items typically appear on a US rental agreement used around Orlando, including airport desks. Contract formats vary by supplier, but the headings and terms below are common enough that you can use them as a fast checklist before you sign.
If you are comparing options for Orlando International Airport, you can also review the supplier and location pages on Hola Car Rentals for context on what is generally offered at MCO, such as Orlando airport car rental and Orlando car hire at MCO. The key, though, is to confirm what is actually on the agreement in front of you.
What LDW/CDW, SLI, and excess mean in plain English
Before hunting through contract lines, it helps to translate the terms into what they usually mean at the desk.
LDW/CDW stands for Loss Damage Waiver or Collision Damage Waiver. In the US, these are usually waivers rather than insurance policies. They typically reduce what you pay if the rental car is damaged or stolen, subject to terms and exclusions.
SLI is Supplementary Liability Insurance. It generally increases third party liability protection beyond the basic state-required minimums, which are often listed as “financial responsibility” or similar language.
Excess is the amount you may have to pay towards a covered claim before the waiver or policy pays the rest. On US contracts, you often see “deductible” or “customer responsibility” instead of the word “excess”. Sometimes it can be shown as zero for certain protections, or shown as a fixed dollar amount.
Where to find LDW or CDW on the contract
Most agreements show LDW/CDW in one of three places: a coverage section, an optional products section, or a charge summary where accepted items appear as line items.
1) Coverage, Waivers, or Protection Products
Look for headings such as “Coverages”, “Waivers”, “Protection Options”, “Optional Services”, or “Accepted/Declined”. Under these headings, you may see a tick box, initials, or a status label that indicates whether you accepted LDW/CDW.
Common contract lines and abbreviations include “LDW”, “CDW”, “Loss Damage Waiver”, “Collision Damage Waiver”, and sometimes “DW”. You may also see a short description about physical damage, theft, or “damage to the vehicle”.
2) Rate lines that show ‘Included’ versus ‘Declined’
Some suppliers show LDW as included in a package rate, in which case the contract may display “LDW Included” with a zero daily rate, or show it embedded in the base rate. If it is optional, you may see a daily amount next to LDW/CDW.
3) The itemised charge area
Even if the contract has a dedicated waivers section, also confirm LDW/CDW in the charges list, often called “Charges Summary”, “Itemisation”, or “Estimated Charges”. If LDW/CDW was added at the counter, it is likely to appear here with a daily rate multiplied by the number of rental days.
Tip for Orlando car hire contracts: if the desk agent changes anything, ask for a reprinted agreement and re-check the LDW/CDW line, plus the total. A small change in accepted cover can move the total significantly.
Where to find SLI on the contract
SLI tends to be easier to spot if you know the alternative phrases used in US paperwork.
1) Liability section
Look for headings like “Liability”, “Liability Insurance”, “Supplemental Liability”, “Additional Liability”, or “LIS/SLI”. SLI may be shown as accepted/declined, or it may appear as a paid option.
2) Lines referencing minimum required cover
Contracts often mention state minimum liability cover, sometimes called “financial responsibility limits”. This is not SLI, but it is typically positioned near the SLI option. If you see the minimum limits listed, scan nearby for “SLI” or “Supplemental”.
3) Where SLI sits in the charges
If SLI was selected, it often appears as a daily charge, for example “SLI 14.99/day” (pricing varies). Some agreements print it as “LIS” (Liability Insurance Supplement) instead of “SLI”. The key is that it is separate from LDW/CDW, since one concerns the rental car, and the other concerns liability to others.
If you are reviewing supplier-specific expectations before arriving, these MCO pages can help you compare providers, such as Alamo at Orlando MCO and Enterprise at Orlando MCO. The contract check remains the final step, regardless of supplier.
Where the excess is shown (often as “deductible”)
This is the part many travellers miss, because “excess” is not always printed as that exact word on US agreements.
1) Deductible or customer responsibility wording
Scan for terms like “Deductible”, “Customer Responsibility”, “Responsibility Amount”, “Damage Liability”, “Maximum Liability”, or “Up to”. These lines may sit directly under LDW/CDW, because they explain what you may still owe if the waiver applies.
2) A separate section for “Damage to Vehicle”
Some agreements include a block that sets out what happens if the car is damaged, including towing, loss of use, administrative fees, and diminished value. The deductible or responsibility amount may be listed there rather than alongside LDW.
3) Deposit and authorisation are not the excess
Orlando car hire agreements often show a pre-authorisation amount on the payment card. This can look like a large number and is sometimes mistaken for the excess. The authorisation is a payment hold, while the deductible or responsibility amount is the potential out-of-pocket amount related to damage, theft, or other covered events.
If you only have 60 seconds, focus on two numbers: the deductible/responsibility amount, and the card authorisation. They answer different questions.
The contract lines most likely to change at the counter
Most surprises happen when optional items are added or removed. If you want to keep the agreement aligned with what you expected, scan for these line items before signing:
Protection products: LDW/CDW, SLI, PAI/PEC (personal accident/personal effects), roadside assistance plans, and sometimes windscreen and tyre cover.
Fuel and refuelling: “Fuel Service Option”, “Prepaid Fuel”, “Refuel Charge”, or “Return Full” wording. Fuel choices affect the total and can look like insurance if you are reading quickly.
Additional driver: may be “Add Driver”, “Additional Operator”, or shown with a daily fee.
Young driver fees: often “Underage” or “Young Renter”.
Toll programmes: Orlando has many toll roads, so you may see “Toll pass”, “PlatePass”, “Toll-by-Plate”, or “Electronic Tolling”. It is not insurance, but it is a common add-on and is worth confirming before you sign.
A fast, practical checklist before you sign in Orlando
Use this order of operations when the agreement is printed or shown on a tablet.
1) Confirm the vehicle, dates, and rate
Check the car class, pick-up and return timestamps, and the daily base rate. If the times are wrong by hours, extra day charges can appear.
2) Find the “Accepted/Declined” or “Optional” table
Locate LDW/CDW and SLI here first. If the form uses initials or codes, ask what each abbreviation means and whether it is included in your rate or charged extra.
3) Find the deductible/responsibility number
Scan under LDW/CDW wording for “deductible” or “responsibility”. If you cannot find a number, ask where it is stated on the agreement, and do not rely on verbal descriptions alone.
4) Match the charges to the items you accepted
Go to the itemised charges and make sure every protection product you accepted is listed correctly, with the right daily rate and number of days. If you declined something, it should not appear as a paid line item.
5) Check totals, taxes, and location fees
Orlando airport rentals may include facility charges and taxes that are normal for the location. Confirm that the total is consistent with the line items.
For travellers planning people-carrier options, it can be useful to compare vehicle categories in advance, such as minivan hire at Orlando MCO. Larger vehicles can have different daily prices and sometimes different deposit requirements, so it is helpful context when reviewing the agreement totals.
Common wording variations you might see
Here are contract terms that often refer to the same concepts:
LDW/CDW: LDW, CDW, DW, Loss Damage Waiver, Collision Damage Waiver, Vehicle Damage Waiver.
SLI: SLI, LIS, Supplemental Liability, Supplementary Liability, Additional Liability, Liability Supplement.
Excess: Deductible, Customer Responsibility, Responsibility Amount, Maximum Out-of-Pocket, Damage Liability.
If your contract uses unfamiliar acronyms, ask for the legend or explanation on the agreement. Many contracts print a short definitions section, sometimes near the signature area.
What to do if the lines do not match what you expected
If you believe LDW/CDW or SLI should be included, but the contract shows them as declined or priced separately, pause and ask the agent to explain which protections are included in your rate and which are optional. Then ask for a revised agreement that reflects your decision.
If the deductible is higher than you expected, ask whether that number changes depending on the protection selected, and where the contract states the applicable deductible for your chosen option. Make sure you are comparing like with like, because some waivers reduce your responsibility while others do not.
Finally, check that any changes are visible in the itemised charges and the final total. If the paper or tablet view is hard to read, request a printed copy or emailed copy before you leave the counter, so you can review it while still on-site.
FAQ
Which exact line shows LDW or CDW on an Orlando car hire contract?
Usually a line labelled “LDW”, “CDW”, “DW”, or “Loss Damage Waiver” within a “Coverages/Waivers” table, plus a matching line in the itemised charges if it is paid.
Where do I find SLI on the agreement?
Look under a “Liability” or “Optional Coverages” section for “SLI” or “LIS”, then confirm it appears in the charges summary if you accepted it.
Is the excess always printed as “excess” in the US?
No. On US agreements it is commonly shown as “deductible” or “customer responsibility”, often near the LDW/CDW wording or in a damage responsibility section.
What is the difference between the deductible and the card authorisation?
The deductible (excess) is a potential amount you could owe after an incident. The card authorisation is a temporary hold used to secure payment during the rental.
If I decline LDW/CDW, where will that show?
It should show as “Declined” in the coverages table, and it should not appear as a paid line item in the itemised charges. Always check both places before signing.
