throbb:bagheera:SaltyNZ:graemeh:
Most insurance policies don't charge an excess where the other driver is at fault and has been identified.
Some insurance policies also "protect" the no claims bonus so you don't automatically lose it.
They do when the other driver says 'No, I am not at fault, and I won't pay.' Then you still have to take them to the Disputes Tribunal. I've done it twice, with two different insurance companies.
when i had a tuck hit me from behind and he said it was my fault, AMI said no it was not, fix my car, no excess or no claim bonus lost, no court either, was very surprised.
Same thing happened with me with Sate. The dude that hit my car said it was my fault. I told state what happened and drew a diagram for them, they fixed my car with no excess.
If you're hit from behind it's never your fault, if it's a chain the car at the back gets the blame.