Excesses are less frequently a part of car rental agreements in the US,and Central and South America. Do please always check your own hire agreement though.
In these regions, when you are provided with a local CDW you are not normally liable for the the first part of a claim - unlike most of the rest of the world.
In Canada and the Caribbean practices differ considerably between car hire firms so it is not possible to generalise.
If you buy an independent Collision Damage Waiver (possibly including Supplementary Liability Insurance) through the MoneyMaxim Car Hire Insurance comparison service](/compare-collision-damage-waiver-insurance) no excesses are applied. This is normally the cheapest way to insure your car hire. More information is available on these policies here.
It is best practice to check with the car hire company you are using to identify their practice, but don't hesitate to call the MoneyMaxim team on 0118 321 8197 if you are still confused!