who is your car insured with?? some times it is quicker and less painfull to use your insurance to repair it, cause they insured it in the first place, then they chase her company for the money....i am an insurance broker for motorcycles but they all work in similar ways.

see some insurance companies may not pay much if any due to the vehicle being not in there coverage guidelines, but yours obviously does. you will not lose your rating and not have to pay a cent. plus if her company has a fit about it, they battle another insurer not just a poor defenceless car driver....

every claim i have ever made i have done through my company and let them fight it out. i get my car/bike on the road quicker and no stress...plus if she takes her time paying the excess, (using her company to fix your car), it will hold you up. not fun either way, i hope you get to keep that wonderful car of yours and it is fixed

rupert