Quick Summary:
- Check the “Coverages/Options” section for LDW and SLI status.
- Locate “Deductible/Excess” lines, often beside LDW or damage terms.
- Match any limits shown to the “Liability” section’s dollar amounts.
- Confirm accepted or declined options are dated, initialled, and priced.
When you collect a car hire in San Francisco, the most important task before you sign is to locate three things on the rental agreement: LDW (Loss Damage Waiver), SLI (Supplemental Liability Insurance), and the excess (also called a deductible). These items can be shown in different places depending on the provider and the format of the paperwork, but the agreement usually follows the same logic: options and prices first, then protection summaries and legal terms.
This guide walks you through the exact lines and labels to look for, how to interpret “accepted” versus “declined”, and how to confirm the excess you are actually responsible for if there is damage or theft. The aim is simple: you should be able to point to the relevant line items on the contract and feel confident that the coverage, limits, and excess match what you intended to take.
If you are comparing providers and pick-up points, it can help to review the key terms while you are choosing your car hire, for example when arranging pick-up at San Francisco Airport (SFO) or browsing a supplier page such as Avis car hire at SFO.
First, understand what LDW, SLI and excess mean on US contracts
LDW is commonly described as a waiver, not insurance. On the agreement it may appear as “LDW”, “CDW”, “Loss Damage Waiver”, “Collision Damage Waiver”, or simply “Damage Waiver”. If accepted, it usually limits what you owe for damage or theft, subject to exclusions.
SLI is third-party liability cover above the state minimum. On the agreement it may appear as “SLI”, “Supplemental Liability”, “Liability Supplement”, or “Additional Liability Insurance”. It is typically shown with a per-accident limit, often written as a dollar amount.
Excess is the amount you may have to pay before LDW benefits apply, or the maximum you may be charged under the waiver. US agreements often use the term “deductible”. If you only remember one thing, remember this: the “excess” is not always shown as a single bold number on the first page. It can be embedded in the coverage description, or in a separate “Deductible” column.
Where to find LDW on the agreement, the exact labels to scan for
Start on the first page or the top section of an electronic agreement. Look for a table or list named “Coverages”, “Optional Products”, “Options”, “Protection Products”, or “Add-Ons”. This is usually where LDW is presented as a line item with a daily price.
On that line, check for three common indicators:
1) Status flag: words like “Accepted”, “Declined”, “Included”, “Yes”, or “No”. If there is a box, it may be marked, ticked, or initialled.
2) Rate: a daily charge (for example, “$/day”) or “Included” if bundled with the rate you pre-paid.
3) A reference to deductible: sometimes shown directly on the LDW line, sometimes shown elsewhere with an asterisk.
If you see multiple damage-related items, slow down. LDW may be separate from “Roadside”, “Tyre and windscreen”, “Personal Accident”, or “Personal Effects”. Only LDW (or CDW) is the line you should use to confirm damage waiver status.
If you want to see how different suppliers present these options at SFO, you can compare the wording you see at the counter with what you selected online, for example via Hertz car hire at SFO.
Where to find SLI, and how to confirm the liability limit
SLI is often displayed in the same “Coverages/Options” list as LDW, but the limit is more likely to appear in a separate liability section.
Step-by-step, scan in this order:
Step 1, find the SLI line item: look for “SLI”, “Supplemental Liability Insurance”, “Liability Insurance Supplement”, or “Additional Liability”. Confirm whether it shows “Accepted/Declined” and a price or “Included”.
Step 2, locate the liability limits section: further down the agreement there is often a paragraph titled “Liability Protection”, “Liability Coverage”, “Third Party Liability”, or “Financial Responsibility”. Here you may see state minimum liability and, separately, the higher limit provided by SLI.
Step 3, verify the amount: the limit may be written as a single figure (for example, “$1,000,000”) or as split limits. If the agreement uses split limits, confirm the numbers for “Bodily Injury per person”, “Bodily Injury per accident”, and “Property Damage”. The important thing is that the SLI line item and the liability paragraph agree, and that you understand which limit applies.
If your agreement only shows “state minimum” and you expected higher liability protection, treat that as a red flag and ask for the contract to be corrected before signing.
Where to find the excess, and why it may be hidden in “deductible” language
Many renters look for the word “excess” and cannot find it, because US paperwork usually calls it a deductible. To locate it quickly, search the agreement for “deductible”, “responsible for”, “maximum liability”, “damage responsibility”, or “up to”.
The excess may appear in three common places:
1) Next to the LDW line item: some agreements show “LDW, deductible $0” or “LDW, deductible $500”. If you see this, it is usually the clearest statement of your out-of-pocket maximum for covered damage events.
2) In a coverage summary box: some contracts include a “Coverage Summary” table listing each protection product and the deductible. If the agreement is digital, it may be a second screen you must scroll to.
3) In the terms and conditions paragraph: sometimes the deductible is only defined in legal language, for example “If LDW is accepted, renter is responsible for a deductible of $X per occurrence.” This still counts as the line you need, but you should read it carefully for exclusions.
Also check whether the agreement mentions an “authorisation” or “security deposit” amount. That is not the excess, but it affects what may be held on your card at pick-up.
How to tell if LDW and SLI are included, accepted, or declined
Agreements vary, but the logic is consistent: there will be a way to show that an option is on or off. Use these checks:
Included: the line may show a price of $0.00, “Included”, or it may be listed under “Rate Inclusions”. If it is included, confirm it is not simultaneously shown as “Declined” elsewhere.
Accepted: the line shows a charge and a clear acceptance indicator, often with initials. Make sure the daily rate and number of rental days are correct, so you understand the total cost.
Declined: the line shows “Declined” or “No”, sometimes with your initials or signature acknowledging you turned it down. If you meant to accept it, the contract should be amended before you sign.
A common point of confusion is when the agent prints a contract showing certain options “Accepted” by default. Do not rely on verbal assurances. Only the printed or signed electronic agreement is the record that matters.
Exactly what to check before signing, a practical line-by-line routine
Use this routine at the counter in San Francisco, it takes a couple of minutes and prevents most surprises.
1) Header and vehicle details: confirm name, dates, pick-up location, return location, and the car class. This avoids coverages being priced for the wrong duration.
2) “Coverages/Options” section: point to the lines for LDW and SLI. Confirm each shows the correct status (Included or Accepted if you want them, Declined if you do not). Confirm the daily price and total.
3) “Liability” paragraph: locate the actual liability limit, then confirm it corresponds to SLI being accepted. If you see only state minimum liability, do not assume SLI is active.
4) “Deductible/Excess” wording: find the deductible amount, either next to LDW or in the coverage summary. If there are different deductibles for damage versus theft, note both.
5) Exclusions and prohibited uses: scan for exclusions that can invalidate LDW, such as unauthorised drivers, driving off paved roads, or breaching the rental terms. If you are planning day trips outside San Francisco, check any geographic restrictions too.
6) Signatures and initials: ensure the acceptance or decline boxes are consistent with what you chose. If the document uses initials beside each option, make sure they are present and correct.
When you arrange your car hire for airport collection, doing a quick review of your selected inclusions ahead of time can reduce counter pressure. This is particularly helpful for travellers arriving on long-haul flights via car hire at San Francisco SFO.
What if the contract shows different terms to what you expected?
If the agreement’s lines do not match what you intended, do not sign and hope it will be fixed later. Ask for a revised agreement that shows the correct status for LDW and SLI, and the correct deductible. If you pre-arranged a rate that includes certain coverages, ask the agent to show where it is stated as “Included” on the contract, rather than relying on a separate voucher.
Also, keep an eye out for similarly named products. For instance, “PAI/PEC” is not SLI, and “Roadside” is not LDW. The safest approach is to identify each item by its line on the agreement, then confirm the limit or deductible in the corresponding paragraph or table.
San Francisco-specific context, why checking liability and deductible matters
San Francisco’s dense streets, tight parking, and frequent parallel parking increase the chance of minor scrapes. That makes the deductible line especially important, because it directly affects what you might pay if there is damage. Meanwhile, busy urban driving and surrounding Bay Area motorways make it worth understanding the liability limit stated on the agreement, not just whether SLI is ticked.
If you are continuing your trip beyond the city, the paperwork process and terminology can look very similar at nearby airports. Even if you are picking up elsewhere, the same line-finding method applies, for example at San Jose (SJC).
FAQ
Where exactly does LDW appear on a San Francisco rental agreement? LDW is usually a line item in the “Coverages/Options” or “Optional Products” section, shown with a status like Accepted, Declined, or Included, plus a daily price.
How do I confirm SLI is active and not just state minimum liability? Find the SLI line item showing Accepted or Included, then cross-check the “Liability Coverage” paragraph for a higher dollar limit than state minimums.
Why can’t I find the word “excess” on the contract? US contracts commonly use “deductible” instead of “excess”. Look for “deductible”, “responsible for up to”, or a coverage summary table listing deductibles.
Is the security deposit the same as the excess? No. The deposit or card authorisation is an amount held temporarily, while the excess or deductible is the amount you may owe if a covered damage event occurs.
What should I do if LDW or SLI is marked “Declined” by mistake? Ask for the agreement to be reissued with the correct selections shown on the relevant lines, then re-check the deductible and liability limit before signing.
