Quick Summary:
- SCDW often duplicates LDW/CDW, check which one actually applies.
- Excess to zero means you pay nothing after approved damage.
- Decline counter waivers only if your policy covers the same losses.
- Always confirm exclusions: tyres, glass, roof, underbody, keys, towing.
If you are arranging car hire in California, you will usually see waiver options like LDW (Loss Damage Waiver) or CDW (Collision Damage Waiver) on the rental agreement. Separately, you might buy SCDW (often described as Super CDW) through a broker, travel provider, or sometimes as a bundled package. The confusing part is that these products can stack, partially overlap, or simply duplicate each other.
This article breaks down how SCDW and LDW/CDW interact in California, what “excess to zero” really means in practice, and the exclusions that most commonly catch people out.
When comparing options for California arrivals, it can help to look at pickup-specific pages while you review policy wording. For example, travellers collecting near Los Angeles International Airport often start with car rental Los Angeles LAX, while Bay Area trips may begin with SUV hire San Francisco SFO. The location does not change the fundamentals of waivers, but it can change the available products and the way they are presented.
First, what LDW/CDW usually does on a California rental
In US car hire agreements, LDW and CDW are often used loosely or interchangeably. The key point is that they are typically a waiver of the rental company’s right to charge you for certain damage or loss to the rental vehicle, subject to the contract terms. It is not the same thing as a traditional insurance policy that pays third parties, and it is not the same as liability cover.
Most rental agreements set out a base responsibility amount you could owe if the vehicle is damaged, stolen, or written off. If you have no waiver, the agreement may allow the rental company to charge up to the vehicle’s value, plus extra costs defined in the contract (for example, administrative fees and loss of use). When you add LDW/CDW, that responsibility is usually reduced, sometimes to a fixed excess, sometimes to zero, depending on the product.
In California, you may also see the term “damage waiver” without specifying LDW or CDW. Treat it as the rental company’s product, tied to their contract and their exclusions.
What SCDW means, and why it can duplicate LDW/CDW
SCDW is commonly positioned as an upgrade to reduce the excess. In many programmes, “Super” indicates that the remaining excess under the standard waiver is reduced to a lower amount, sometimes to zero. However, SCDW is not a single universal product, it is a label that can describe very different structures:
1) Rental-company SCDW upgrade
This is an additional waiver sold by the rental company at the counter, designed to enhance the rental company’s standard LDW/CDW. In this case, SCDW and LDW/CDW are meant to stack because they are part of the same waiver ladder.
2) Third-party “excess reimbursement” SCDW
This is cover you buy separately, where you still sign the rental agreement with LDW/CDW (or you rely on a credit card waiver), and if you are charged an excess after damage, the third party reimburses you. This type does not prevent the rental company charging your card. It pays you back later, assuming the claim is valid.
3) Broker-packaged waiver described as SCDW
Sometimes SCDW is bundled in the prepaid deal and functions like an enhanced waiver already included in the price. In this case, the counter may still show LDW/CDW on the agreement, but priced at $0 or noted as included.
The practical answer to the title question is: you only “need” LDW/CDW on the car-hire agreement if your SCDW is not itself the rental-company waiver that the agreement recognises. If your SCDW is third-party reimbursement, declining LDW/CDW can leave you exposed because the rental company can still charge you for damage, and the third-party product might not apply if you breached any terms.
How to tell whether your SCDW stacks or duplicates
Use this quick checklist before you reach the desk:
Check who provides it. If your documents say the rental company provides the waiver, it is more likely to be recognised directly on the agreement. If it is provided by an insurer or a separate administrator, it is more likely to reimburse you after you pay.
Check the claim flow. If the wording says you must pay the rental company first and then claim back, that is reimbursement, not a waiver that stops charges.
Check whether it references “excess”. Reimbursement products often focus on the excess amount. Rental-company waivers focus on “damage to the vehicle” and “theft” under the rental contract.
Check whether it requires you to accept the rental company’s CDW/LDW. Many reimbursement policies only work if you take the rental company’s base waiver. If so, then yes, you still need LDW/CDW on the agreement.
If you are comparing providers for Southern California routes, pages such as Hertz car rental San Diego SAN can help you see what is typically included in different deal structures, but always rely on your actual booking documents for the definitive wording.
What “excess to zero” really means
“Excess to zero” sounds absolute, but it is only true within the boundaries of the waiver’s terms. In car hire, it usually means your financial responsibility for covered damage is reduced to £0 or $0. It does not mean every possible cost becomes free, and it does not mean the rental company cannot charge you first if your product is reimbursement-based.
To interpret “excess to zero” correctly, clarify these three points:
Is it a waiver or reimbursement? Waiver means the rental company generally will not charge you (for covered events). Reimbursement means you can be charged and later claim.
Does it cover all parts of the vehicle? Many products exclude glass, tyres, wheels, roof, underbody, and interior. Excess can be zero for bodywork but still non-zero for excluded items.
Does it include additional contractual costs? Some agreements allow charges like towing, storage, diminished value, loss of use, and admin fees. Some waiver products include these, others do not, and reimbursement products may cap them.
Common exclusions that still apply in California
Whether you are using LDW/CDW, SCDW, or both, exclusions are where most surprises happen. The names differ, but these are common:
Tyres and wheels. Damage from kerbing, potholes, or blowouts may be excluded unless you buy a separate tyre and wheel cover.
Glass and mirrors. Windscreen chips are common on US highways. Some waivers exclude glass entirely.
Roof and underbody. Low-clearance impacts, uneven roads, and improper jacking can fall here.
Interior damage. Burns, stains, tears, and pet hair often sit outside damage waivers.
Keys and keyless fobs. Replacements can be expensive and are frequently excluded.
Towing and roadside. A waiver may cover accident damage but not recovery costs or call-out fees.
Negligence and prohibited use. Off-roading, ignoring warning lights, unsealed roads where prohibited, or driving under the influence can void waivers.
Unauthorised drivers. If the driver is not listed, cover can be invalidated even if the accident was not their fault.
Leaving keys with the vehicle. Theft claims can be declined if the vehicle was left unlocked or with keys inside.
These exclusions matter because they determine whether your “excess to zero” remains zero. If an exclusion applies, the rental company can treat it as outside the waiver and charge you under the agreement, and a reimbursement SCDW may also decline your claim.
When you might still want LDW/CDW even with SCDW
There are scenarios where keeping LDW/CDW on the car-hire agreement is sensible, even if you have SCDW:
You have reimbursement-style SCDW. In that case LDW/CDW can reduce the upfront charge and dispute risk. Without it, you may be liable for the full vehicle value first.
You want fewer admin arguments after an incident. A rental-company waiver can reduce the back-and-forth about which charges are eligible for reimbursement.
You are concerned about claim timeframes. Reimbursement products can take time. A rental-company waiver can be more immediate.
Your SCDW has caps. Some reimbursements limit daily loss of use, admin fees, or total claim value.
On the other hand, if your booking already includes the rental-company waiver with a zero excess, adding another waiver at the counter can be pure duplication.
When LDW/CDW may be unnecessary if you bought SCDW
LDW/CDW on the agreement may be unnecessary when:
Your SCDW is the rental-company’s own “super” waiver and the agreement shows it as included or already selected.
Your prepaid package includes LDW/CDW with a clear excess amount (including zero), and the counter is offering the same cover under a different name.
Your SCDW terms explicitly say it replaces the rental-company waiver and is recognised on the contract, which is less common but possible in some packaged arrangements.
If you are picking up in Northern California, you can compare inclusions by route and provider, for example using car hire airport Sacramento SMF and car hire San Jose SJC, then confirm against your final rental agreement.
A simple decision framework at the desk
Before signing, ask yourself:
1) If the car is damaged today, can the rental company charge my card?
If yes, you do not have a true waiver, you have reimbursement or limited cover.
2) What is the maximum I might pay immediately?
Look for the excess, plus any defined fees for loss of use, admin, towing, and diminished value.
3) What situations are excluded?
Match the exclusions to your likely driving, urban parking, long freeway miles, or coastal routes.
4) Does adding the counter waiver reduce both the excess and the exclusions?
Sometimes it only reduces the excess, leaving common exclusions untouched.
This approach keeps the focus on financial exposure, not the label printed on the paperwork.
FAQ
Is SCDW the same as CDW in California car hire?
No. CDW/LDW is usually the rental-company waiver on the agreement. SCDW typically reduces the remaining excess, or reimburses it, depending on who provides it.
If my documents say “excess to zero”, can I safely decline LDW/CDW?
Only if “excess to zero” is provided as a rental-company waiver recognised on the agreement. If it is reimbursement-based, declining LDW/CDW can leave you paying upfront.
Does LDW/CDW cover glass, tyres, and wheels?
Often not. These are commonly excluded or only covered with an additional product. Always read the specific exclusion list on your agreement and waiver terms.
What happens if an excluded item is damaged but I have SCDW?
If the damage falls under an exclusion, the rental company may charge you under the contract. A reimbursement SCDW may also refuse the claim if the policy excludes it.
Does “zero excess” mean there will be no charges at all?
Not necessarily. Zero excess usually applies to covered damage only. Contractual fees, towing, key replacement, or prohibited-use incidents may still be chargeable.
