Quick Summary:
- Ask to remove “Roadside Assistance” and confirm total due is unchanged.
- Get a printed or emailed agreement showing “Declined” beside roadside products.
- Photograph the signature page, itemised charges, and final total before leaving.
- Screenshot any tablet prompts that show optional cover selected or declined.
At a Florida car hire counter, roadside-assistance add-ons can appear as a line item, a pre-ticked box on a tablet, or a bundled “package” that quietly increases the total. The simplest way to avoid unwanted extras is to be precise with your wording, check the right parts of the agreement, and leave with proof that you declined. This guide shows exactly what to look for, what to ask the agent to print or email, and which photos or screenshots to take so you can challenge any later billing confidently.
If you are collecting near major airports, the process is broadly similar whether you are at Miami Airport or Tampa Airport, but the key is not the location, it is the paperwork. Roadside options are often presented as “recommended”, “peace of mind”, or “it covers tyres and towing”, and it can be easy to nod along after a flight. Your goal is to make the decline unambiguous and traceable on the contract.
What “roadside assistance” can look like on a Florida rental agreement
Roadside products are not always labelled in plain English. On the agreement, look for terms such as Roadside Assistance, Road Safe, Emergency Road Service, ERS, Roadside Plus, RSA, RAP, or Assistance Package. Sometimes it is bundled with other items under a “Protection Package” name. The key is to locate the section that lists Optional Products and Services or an Itemised Charges table.
You should also watch for a per-day fee that looks small, because in Florida a daily add-on multiplied by the rental duration, plus taxes and fees, can become a meaningful amount. If you see a line with a daily rate and a quantity of days, you are looking at the right area.
Exact phrases to use at the counter, keep it short and specific
When the agent offers roadside assistance, respond with a single clear sentence, then ask for confirmation on the agreement. Use one of these options verbatim:
Option A: “No thank you, please remove roadside assistance and any assistance package from my agreement.”
Option B: “I decline all optional add-ons, including roadside assistance. Please mark them as declined.”
Option C: “Please show me the itemised charges. I want roadside assistance set to declined and the total updated.”
Then ask a follow-up question that forces a check of the paperwork:
“Can you point to where it says ‘Roadside Assistance: Declined’ on the contract before I sign?”
This is not confrontational, it is a normal paperwork check. If the agent cannot show you the “declined” status, you do not have a reliable record yet.
Where to look on the agreement, and the wording that matters
Agreements vary by brand, but most include three areas where roadside add-ons appear. Check all three, because a product can be removed in one place but still present elsewhere.
1) Optional products section. Look for a list of products with a status such as Accepted, Declined, Yes/No, or tick boxes. The wording you want is “Declined”, “No”, or an unchecked box next to the roadside product name.
2) Itemised charges. Look for a line item with a daily rate for roadside, for example “RSA 9.99/day” or similar. The safest outcome is that no roadside line item exists at all. If it must remain listed, it should show $0.00.
3) Estimated total or amount due at pick-up. After removing extras, the total should drop. If the total does not change, ask why. Sometimes the agent removed the item but a different package was left in place.
If you are in a high-volume location such as Orlando or Miami, a rushed signature flow on a tablet is common. Do not rely on verbal confirmation alone. The contract is what billing follows.
What to ask the agent to print or email, and the exact request
To create a clean paper trail, ask for the final agreement in a format you can keep and search later. Say:
“Please print the final agreement, including itemised charges and optional products showing declined, and also email me the same copy.”
If the agent says they can only do one, choose email, because the timestamp helps. If they say they cannot email, ask for a printout. The goal is a copy generated after changes were made. A “preliminary” or “quote” is less useful than the final rental agreement.
Before you leave the desk, check the document for these details:
- Your name and rental dates are correct.
- The vehicle class or model line matches what you are taking.
- Roadside add-on shows declined or is absent, not “accepted”.
- The total due, deposit, and payment method look right.
Even if you are picking up through an agency desk connected with National Car Hire Florida listings, the paperwork at collection is what determines the optional services billed. Treat that document as the source of truth.
Photos and screenshots to take, a simple checklist
In Florida, the fastest way to protect yourself is to take a few clear images before you walk away from the counter. You do not need to photograph everything, just the parts that prove the add-ons were declined and show the agreed total.
Take these photos of paper documents:
- The page showing optional products with roadside marked declined.
- The itemised charges page showing no roadside line, or $0.00.
- The signature page with date and time, if shown.
- The “total estimated charges” summary and amount due at pick-up.
Take these screenshots or photos of tablet screens:
- The screen with add-on toggles, showing roadside off or declined.
- The final review screen showing total before you sign.
- The confirmation screen after signing, if it appears.
Make sure your images are readable, with the product name visible. If the counter is bright or reflective, take two photos from different angles. If the agent is holding the paper behind the desk, ask politely to place it flat so you can capture it clearly.
If the agent says it is “included” or “required”, how to respond
Roadside assistance is usually optional, but presentations differ. If you are told it is included, ask for clarity:
“If it’s included at no cost, can you show me it is $0.00 and not billed per day?”
If you are told it is required, ask a precise question:
“Can you point to the mandatory policy wording on the agreement that says roadside assistance is required?”
Often, “required” really means “recommended” or “most customers take it”. You are not accusing anyone, you are simply asking to see the policy language in writing. If they cannot show it, request removal again and ask for the updated contract.
Common slip-ups that cause unwanted charges
Signing before you see the itemised charges. Many tablet flows show a summary that hides the add-ons until later pages. Scroll, ask for the itemised view, and do not sign until you see roadside is declined.
Accepting a bundle. Packages can include roadside under a different name. If you want to decline roadside but keep other cover, ask: “Can we remove just the roadside component and keep everything else the same?” Then verify the line item disappears or becomes $0.00.
Mixing up prepay and pay-at-counter totals. If you prepaid online, the counter may still show add-ons on top. Confirm the amount you are paying today and the amount already paid. If you are collecting near Miami Beach, whether via Enterprise car rental in Miami Beach or another provider, always reconcile the due-now figure against your voucher or confirmation.
Rushing out before you receive the final agreement. The “final” agreement is the one you want in your inbox or hand, not a draft. If the queue is long, step aside and wait for the email confirmation while still on-site.
What to do if you notice the add-on after leaving the desk
If you spot roadside assistance on the agreement in the car park, go back immediately. It is easier to correct while the rental is still being opened. Ask for a revised agreement and repeat the proof steps: updated itemised charges, optional products marked declined, and a new email or printout.
If you only notice later, reply to the agreement email (or contact the location) with a calm, factual message: you declined roadside, you request a corrected agreement, and you are attaching photos showing the decline. Keep your wording simple and focus on documentation.
Florida pick-up habits that reduce disputes later
Use one consistent email address. Ask the agent to confirm the email on file, then watch for the agreement arriving before you drive away. If you are collecting at a busy hub such as Orlando, including areas served by Payless near Disney Orlando listings, email delivery can be delayed. Waiting a few minutes can save hours later.
Keep your evidence in one folder. Create an album on your phone called “Florida car hire paperwork” and save the photos and agreement PDF. If there is a dispute, you can send one neat set of files.
Check the receipt at return as well. Even if you declined correctly at pick-up, review the return receipt for any assistance charge. If it appears, challenge it immediately while you still have the vehicle return context.
FAQ
Q: What exact wording should I look for to prove I declined roadside assistance?
Look for the roadside product name followed by “Declined”, “No”, or an unchecked box, plus an itemised charges section showing no roadside fee or $0.00.
Q: Is a verbal “no thanks” enough at a Florida car hire counter?
No. Verbal declines are hard to evidence later. You want the agreement itself to show roadside is declined, and you should keep a printout or emailed copy.
Q: What if the agent only shows a tablet and won’t give me paper?
Ask for the agreement to be emailed immediately, and take clear screenshots or photos of the add-on selection screen and final total before you sign.
Q: Which photos are most useful if I am billed later?
The most useful are the optional products page showing “Declined”, the itemised charges page, and the final total page. Make sure the product name and amounts are readable.
Q: If roadside is described as ‘included’, can it still cost money?
Yes. “Included” can mean bundled into a package price. Confirm it is $0.00 as a line item, or confirm the package total is exactly what you agreed, in writing.
