Hey there Barkie, sorry for your mishap.
For all you guys that might need to know this...get the trade and retail prices of your car.
Add those two numbers up and divide by two.
70 to 75% of that amount can be spent on the car (irrespective of age) to repair it. Phone around for your own pricing, make sure that the repairer isnt double charging the insurance for the items (hurts ur excess).
INSIST on new OEM parts, demand that you see all invoices. Repairers cannot quote on new parts and use 2nd hand/ repaired parts. You can ask/ tell the repairer to keep all your old parts and ask to see them when your car is complete. They cannot bullshit you and say that the insurance already collected them or whatever bullshit story. The insurance will only pay the repairer if the client is satisfied so if theres queries, there needs to be proof (ie: the old parts need to be available for inspection) You cannot keep your old parts though, they belong then to the insurance company, unless they do not want the parts, then you have full right to claim them from the repairer and sell them off to try make some of your excess back. Some guys will buy the stuff and repair it themselves for their project car bla bla... Or just so that the repairer doesnt keep them and make more money from the next guy who he bullshits...
Do not let urself be bullied into believing ANYTHING that the repairer tells you unless its black on white...
Hope this helps...