If you make a claim, you’ll normally have to cover a portion of the cost. This amount is called the ‘excess’. It's made up of any voluntary excess you chose when you purchased your policy, as well as any compulsory excess(es) that are part of the policy. You can see all of the excesses that apply to your insurance cover on your Policy Schedule.
Bear in mind that if you do use a non-approved repairer an additional excess will apply (check your Policy Schedule for details).
As a general rule, you'll be responsible for paying the policy excess when making a claim from your insurer. With the exception of certain types of claims (like glass damage) if you weren’t at fault, your insurer may be able to recover your excess from the other driver’s insurer. If successful, your excess may be refunded - depending on how the investigation goes.