Quick Summary:
- Check the rate line items for added coverages, roadside, and equipment fees.
- Ask for a revised contract with declined extras, then re-check totals.
- Look for initials or ticked boxes that confirm optional items acceptance.
- Photograph screens and paperwork before signing, and keep the final receipt.
Pre-selected extras on a car hire contract are optional products that appear as already chosen when you reach the counter or complete a final e-signature. In Florida, this often happens because staff use a standard template, the system carries forward selections from an earlier quote, or the screen defaults to “accepted” for certain add-ons. None of that means you must pay for them, but it does mean you need to spot them before you sign.
This guide shows what to look for on Florida paperwork and e-sign screens, which extras are most commonly pre-selected, and the exact steps to remove them so you only pay for the add-ons you want.
Why extras show up as pre-selected in Florida
Florida is one of the busiest states for airport pickups, with high volumes of international visitors, tight turnaround times, and frequent one-way rentals. That speed can work against you at the counter. Contracts are often produced quickly, with multiple optional products bundled into a single “services” section, and you may be asked to initial on a device rather than reading a full printed breakdown.
Also, Florida rentals tend to have higher exposure to toll roads, parking scrapes, and storm-related damage, so vendors commonly present extra protection products as the default “recommended” setup. The key is to treat every extra as opt-in, and make sure the contract reflects your choices.
Common pre-selected extras on car hire contracts
Names vary by supplier, but the same types of extras appear again and again. The easiest way to identify them is to scan for separate daily charges, one-off fees, or a “yes/accepted” indicator next to an option.
1) Additional insurance or protection products
Protection products are the most frequently pre-selected items because they create the largest daily price change. On paperwork, they can appear as separate lines with a per-day cost, or as a combined package name.
Typical lines you may see include:
Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) or Collision Damage Waiver (CDW): Often described as damage coverage, sometimes shown as “accepted” by default. If you already have coverage via your card or travel policy, make sure the contract matches what you intend to rely on.
Supplemental Liability Insurance (SLI) or Liability Supplement: A liability top-up that can be presented as a standard safety recommendation. Check whether it is included, optional, or pre-ticked.
Personal Accident Insurance (PAI) and Personal Effects Coverage (PEC): These are commonly bundled and easy to miss, especially when they are rolled into a “protection package”.
What to look for: any daily amount next to protection acronyms, or a package name that does not match the price you expected.
2) Roadside assistance programmes
Roadside assistance is often listed as RSA, RAP, Roadside Plus, or Emergency Roadside. It may cover tyre changes, lockouts, jump starts, towing, or service call fees. In Florida, it is frequently shown as “accepted” on the signature pad because it is positioned as a convenience.
What to look for: a per-day charge under “Services”, “Optional Items”, or “Protection”. If you do not want it, ask for it to be declined explicitly, not just verbally.
3) Toll products and electronic toll passes
Florida has extensive toll roads, especially around Miami, Orlando, and airport corridors. Many vendors offer toll products, and these can be pre-selected because they reduce disputes over unpaid tolls later.
Common versions include:
Prepaid toll: You pay upfront for unlimited tolls, or a set allowance.
Toll transponder service: You pay a daily fee plus the tolls used.
Plate billing / pay-by-plate admin fee: Tolls are billed later with an added service fee.
What to look for: lines mentioning Toll, SunPass, PlatePass, Convenience Fee, or an “Admin” fee tied to tolls.
4) Fuel options
Fuel can be confusing because “prepaid fuel” may be shown even when you intend to return the car full. If your paperwork includes a fuel purchase option, you might be paying for a full tank at a higher price than local petrol stations, and you may not get a refund for unused fuel.
What to look for: “Fuel Service Option”, “Prepaid Fuel”, “Fuel Purchase”, or a note stating you may return empty. If you want the standard full-to-full approach, ensure the contract specifies that you will return with the same level, and that the prepaid option is removed.
5) Equipment and convenience add-ons
Some equipment add-ons are requested in advance, but they can also appear automatically on contracts if a template was used. The most common are:
Additional driver: Often charged per day, per extra driver. Verify whether any additional driver is actually named on the contract.
Child seats or boosters: Charged per day, sometimes with a maximum cap. Make sure the quantity is correct.
GPS or navigation device: Less common now, but still appears.
What to look for: “ADD DR”, “Extra Driver”, “CSR/Booster”, “Navigation”, or a unit count greater than zero.
Where pre-selected extras appear on Florida paperwork
Different suppliers format contracts differently, but the same checkpoints work almost every time:
1) The itemised charges section: Look for a table showing “Daily”, “Qty”, and “Amount”. Optional extras often sit between the base rate and taxes.
2) A “Protection and Services” box: This is where add-ons can be grouped with short acronyms. If you see acronyms you do not recognise, ask for each one to be explained and priced.
3) Signature screen checkboxes: On some e-sign devices, each option has an accept or decline toggle. Do not assume the agent’s verbal summary matches what is selected.
4) Initials next to options: Initials can function as acceptance. If you are asked to initial multiple times, slow down and confirm what each initial is approving.
How to remove pre-selected extras, step by step
You do not need an argument, you need a clean contract. Use this process to keep it simple and documented.
Step 1: Ask for the itemised breakdown before you sign. If you are only shown a total, request the page or screen with line items. In a busy location, such as Miami Airport car hire, it is worth taking an extra minute here because small per-day charges add up quickly.
Step 2: Name the extra you are declining and ask for it to be removed. Use the product name as written on the contract, for example “Please remove Roadside Assistance” or “Please decline SLI”. Avoid broad statements like “remove insurance” if you only mean one line item.
Step 3: Ask for a revised contract and re-check the new total. The key is that the system must regenerate the agreement. If the agent only says “I’ve taken it off”, but the paperwork still shows it, you may still be charged.
Step 4: Confirm the declined status on the signature device. If the screen shows accept or decline toggles, make sure declined is selected before you sign. If you are collecting near Orlando Airport van hire desks where queues can be long, it can feel rushed, but the screen selections are what count.
Step 5: Keep evidence. Take a clear photo of the final signed contract page showing the line items and total. Save the final e-receipt too. This makes it easier to query a charge later if something reappears.
Contract red flags that usually mean an extra is still on
Use these quick checks before you walk away:
The daily rate looks higher than expected: Compare the base rate line with the total per day. If taxes and fees do not explain the difference, an add-on is likely included.
You see bundled wording: Phrases like “Protection Package”, “Total Protection”, or “Roadside Bundle” can hide multiple components. Ask what is inside and what each part costs.
The agreement lists products you did not request: Extra driver, child seat, GPS, toll device, fuel purchase. If it is on the contract, it is assumed accepted.
A second page has more add-ons: Some contracts show extras on a separate page or in smaller text under “Optional”. Read both pages or scroll to the end of the e-sign document.
Florida-specific notes: tolls, deposits, and storms
Tolls: If you expect to use toll roads around Miami Beach or Orlando theme parks, decide ahead of time how you want to pay. Declining a toll product can be fine, but know what “pay-by-plate” fees look like so you are not surprised later. If you are staying near Miami Beach car rental pickup points, you may encounter bridges and express lanes where toll billing rules matter.
Deposits: A higher deposit is not necessarily an “extra”, but it can change depending on what you accept or decline. If your deposit jumps after a change, ask what caused it and whether it relates to a protection product.
Weather events: Florida storms can increase the urgency around protection conversations. Stay calm and focus on your needs. The correct approach is still the same: understand each line item and only accept what you want.
How to check your receipt after return
Even if your contract is correct at pick-up, verify the final receipt after drop-off. Look for added lines such as toll admin fees, fuel service charges, roadside, or a late-added protection product. If you used a major airport supplier, the final receipt may be emailed quickly, but keep your photos of the signed agreement as your baseline.
If you rented through a desk branded as a specific supplier, the line item names can be very supplier-specific. For instance, agreements issued at Hertz car hire in Orlando may display different abbreviations to those used at a Miami Beach location. The principle remains the same: match each charge to something you knowingly selected.
In downtown areas, contracts can be shorter but still include default add-ons, especially toll services and roadside. If you are collecting near downtown Miami car rental, check the “Optional Items” section carefully before signing.
FAQ
Are pre-selected extras on a Florida car hire contract legally binding if I did not notice them? If you sign the contract with the extras included, they are typically treated as accepted. That is why it is important to review line items and ensure declined options are clearly marked before signing.
What wording should I use to remove an add-on at the counter? Ask for the product by name and request a revised agreement, for example: “Please decline SLI and remove it from the contract, then reprint or resend the updated agreement.”
How can I tell whether I am being charged for a toll product? Look for line items referencing Toll, SunPass, PlatePass, transponder, convenience charge, or toll admin fees. These may be daily charges, per-use fees, or both.
Can I remove extras after I have driven away? Sometimes, but it depends on the supplier and the specific product. It is much easier to remove extras before departure, because the signed agreement is the strongest reference for what was accepted.
What should I keep in case I need to dispute a charge later? Keep a photo or copy of the final signed agreement showing itemised charges, plus the final return receipt. If you discussed changes, note the time and the staff member’s name if possible.
