Quick Summary:
- Counter SCDW can reduce your excess, but may still exclude tyres.
- Excess reimbursement refunds what you pay first, after the rental claim.
- Check Florida damage types, glass, roof, and underbody are clearly covered.
- Choose based on your cash flow, risk tolerance, and paperwork comfort.
When arranging car hire in Florida, the biggest surprise for many travellers is not the fuel policy or tolls, it is how damage cover works. At the rental counter you may be offered “SCDW” or similar add ons that promise peace of mind, while your broker or insurer may sell “excess reimbursement” (sometimes called excess cover). They are not the same product, and they behave differently when something goes wrong.
This guide explains the practical differences between counter SCDW and excess reimbursement for Florida car hire, focusing on excess amounts, the claims process, and common gaps that can leave you out of pocket.
What SCDW is at the counter, and what it actually changes
SCDW is usually presented as an upgrade to the damage waiver included in the rental. In the US, rental agreements often include CDW/LDW style terms that limit your liability for damage or theft, but with a potentially large excess (also called a deductible), plus exclusions. Counter SCDW is typically the rental company’s own product that modifies the rental contract.
In plain terms, counter SCDW usually aims to do one or more of the following:
1) Reduce your excess to a lower figure, sometimes to zero. This is the headline benefit. If the base agreement has a deductible of several hundred dollars or more, the counter product may lower it, subject to exclusions.
2) Reduce the rental company’s need to charge you upfront. Because it changes your contractual liability, the rental company may be less likely to process a large damage charge to your card, depending on the incident and local policy.
3) Clarify who handles the claim. If the rental company’s own cover applies, you are dealing with the rental company rather than an external insurer for that portion.
However, SCDW is not automatically “full cover”. It can still exclude specific parts of the vehicle (commonly tyres, wheels, glass, roof, underbody), and it may not protect you from additional charges such as loss of use, administrative fees, towing, or diminished value, depending on the wording.
What excess reimbursement is, and why it feels different
Excess reimbursement is separate insurance that sits alongside the rental agreement. It typically does not change what you owe the rental company at the time of an incident. Instead, it reimburses you after you have paid the rental company, as long as the event and charges fit the policy terms.
Think of it as a back end refund mechanism. If the rental company charges you for damage up to the excess, you submit documents to the excess reimbursement insurer, and you may be repaid up to the policy limit.
This difference matters because it affects:
Cash flow: you may need sufficient available funds or credit for a deposit, an excess, or a damage charge.
Paperwork: reimbursement normally requires documentation such as the rental agreement, check in report, incident report, photos, repair invoice, and proof of payment.
Timing: reimbursement can take time, while the rental company charge can be immediate.
For travellers planning a fly drive trip, you might compare Florida airport pick ups such as car rental Orlando MCO or car rental at Fort Lauderdale FLL and see different counter upsell experiences. The choice between SCDW and reimbursement is less about the airport, and more about the structure of the cover.
Excess and deductibles, what you may actually pay in Florida
For Florida car hire, the key number is your financial responsibility before any insurance or waiver helps. This is often called the excess in UK English, but US paperwork may use “deductible”.
With counter SCDW, your excess may be reduced at the contract level. If you have a zero deductible waiver, a covered incident might mean you pay nothing for vehicle damage, again subject to exclusions and breach of contract conditions.
With excess reimbursement, your excess remains what the rental agreement says. If damage occurs and is considered your responsibility, the rental company may charge you up to that amount. You then claim it back from the reimbursement insurer.
So the “best” option often depends on whether you can comfortably absorb a temporary charge. If you cannot, counter SCDW may be appealing. If you can, reimbursement can be cost effective, but only if its exclusions do not conflict with how you will drive and park in Florida.
Claims flow, step by step comparison
Counter SCDW typical flow:
1) You report the incident to the rental company and follow their instructions.
2) If the incident is covered, your contractual liability is reduced, sometimes to zero.
3) You may still be charged for excluded items, or if you breached the agreement.
4) The rental company administers repairs and any internal process.
Excess reimbursement typical flow:
1) You report the incident to the rental company, police if required, and obtain documentation.
2) The rental company charges you (or later bills you) up to the excess and any other permitted fees.
3) You submit a claim with supporting documents to the reimbursement insurer.
4) The insurer assesses whether the event is covered, then reimburses eligible costs up to limits.
The biggest practical difference is that reimbursement adds an extra step. If you prefer a single party handling things at the scene, the counter waiver can feel simpler. If you are comfortable collecting paperwork and waiting for reimbursement, the third party route can work well.
Common gaps that catch people out
Both options can leave gaps, but the gaps are not always the same. When comparing cover for Florida car hire, look for these recurring issues.
Tyres, wheels, glass, roof, and underbody
These are frequently excluded or limited. Florida roads are generally good, but kerb damage, potholes, debris, and cracked windscreens can happen. If your counter SCDW excludes tyres and wheels, you could still pay for a scuffed alloy and puncture. If your reimbursement policy excludes the same items, you may not be able to reclaim what you paid.
Pay special attention to “underbody” and “roof” exclusions. Low parking barriers, ramps, and flooding damage can be contentious, and Florida weather can be intense. If you are travelling during storm season, be realistic about where you will park and whether flood related exclusions apply.
Loss of use, admin fees, and diminished value
Rental companies may seek loss of use (the revenue they claim to lose while the vehicle is off road), plus administrative fees, plus sometimes diminished value. Counter SCDW may or may not waive these. Excess reimbursement policies may cover some of them, limit them, or exclude them entirely.
If the policy only reimburses the excess amount, but the rental company adds fees outside the deductible, you might still be out of pocket. This is one of the most important “small print” comparisons to make.
One way fees, towing, and roadside assistance charges
If an incident results in towing, recovery, or roadside assistance, the bill can be separate from vehicle damage. Some counter products bundle roadside assistance, others do not. Reimbursement policies vary, and some reimbursements only apply to damage charges, not service call outs.
Who is allowed to drive, and contract breaches
Both counter SCDW and reimbursement cover can fail if you breach the rental agreement. Common issues include unlisted drivers, driving under the influence, off road use, or using the wrong fuel. In Florida, also consider toll roads, parking rules, and where the vehicle is permitted to be taken.
If the rental company decides you breached the contract, they may deny the waiver and charge you. Your reimbursement insurer may also deny the claim on the same basis. Always match the driver list on the agreement to who will actually drive.
Card benefits, travel insurance, and duplication
Some travellers have cover via premium cards or travel insurance. Those products can behave more like reimbursement, not like counter SCDW. Duplication can happen, and you might pay twice for similar protection.
It is worth checking whether your existing policies exclude US rentals, exclude large vehicles, or require you to decline the rental company waiver to activate cover. The rules differ widely.
When excess reimbursement may be a good fit
Excess reimbursement can make sense when:
You can handle a temporary charge. You have sufficient credit limit and do not mind waiting for the claim outcome.
You want cover across multiple rentals. Some reimbursement policies cover many trips and can be better value if you hire often.
You are comfortable with documentation. You can keep copies of the rental agreement, damage report, and receipts, and you will follow claim timelines.
You have checked key exclusions carefully. Especially tyres, glass, and fees such as loss of use.
If your Florida trip includes different pick up points, for instance comparing Hertz car hire Miami MIA with beach locations such as Hertz car hire Miami Beach MBC, having consistent reimbursement cover can feel simpler than re evaluating counter products each time. The key is making sure the reimbursement policy matches the rental terms and the vehicle type.
When counter SCDW may be the better choice
Counter SCDW can suit you when:
You want minimal upfront exposure. Reducing the deductible at the contract level can lower the chance of a large charge.
You prefer fewer moving parts. You want the rental company to handle the waiver decision without an external insurer.
You are worried about claim friction. Reimbursement can be straightforward, but it always depends on evidence and interpretation.
You have checked what is included. Some counter packages include glass and tyres, some do not, so you need the specifics.
Practical checklist before you decide
1) Ask for the deductible amount in writing. Know the figure that applies without any add ons.
2) Read the excluded parts list. Tyres, wheels, glass, roof, underbody, mirrors, and keys.
3) Confirm whether fees are covered. Loss of use, admin fees, towing, storage, diminished value.
4) Confirm who pays first. If reimbursement, assume you pay first and reclaim later.
5) Match cover to your trip style. City parking, beach areas, long highway drives, and weather exposure.
6) Keep evidence. Photos at pick up and drop off, and any incident documentation.
So, should you use excess reimbursement instead of SCDW in Florida?
There is no universal best answer, because the products solve different problems. If you want to reduce your liability at source and potentially avoid a large damage charge, counter SCDW is designed for that, but you must confirm what it excludes. If you want a potentially cheaper way to protect the excess across one or more rentals, and you can manage paying first then claiming, excess reimbursement can work well, but only when the policy covers the charges the rental company is likely to levy.
For Florida car hire, the decision is usually about cash flow and exclusions. Choose the approach that you will be able to follow calmly if a windscreen chips on I 95, an alloy gets kerbed in a car park, or a storm brings unexpected damage.
FAQ
Is SCDW the same as zero excess cover? Not always. Some SCDW products reduce the deductible, but still exclude tyres, glass, roof, or underbody, and may still allow certain fees.
Will excess reimbursement stop the rental company charging my card? No. Excess reimbursement usually does not change the rental contract, so the rental company can still charge you, then you claim reimbursement afterwards.
What documents do I need for an excess reimbursement claim? Typically the rental agreement, damage report, photos if available, repair invoice or demand letter, and proof of payment. Requirements vary by policy.
Are loss of use and admin fees covered by reimbursement policies? Sometimes, but not guaranteed. Many policies limit these fees or exclude them, so check the wording before relying on reimbursement.
Does either option cover personal injury or third party liability in Florida? These products focus on damage to the rental vehicle and theft liability. Liability and medical cover are separate and should be reviewed independently.
