if you claim through the other drivers insurance your excess dosent come into it. if the other driver denied liability then you would have to claim your own insurance and your excess would then come into the equation.if you do not have legal cover on your policy you would have to pay the first �350 . if the car is not of high value the insurance company would normally offer money to repair car yourself and let you keep the car. the money they offer is never enough to get repair done .