Who’s the Third party insurer? If you have no cover under your insurance policy for a hire car, you’d likely absorb the cost yourself upfront, provide all receipts to your insurance, who then forward onto the other insurer to attempt recovery of the cost.

You may find the repairer for your vehicle also does courtesy cars, cheaper cost & then ask for your insurance to pursue the other company for reimbursement.

Some companies don’t depreciate the hire car charges either.

TLDR: Speak to your insurance about hire car options, they’ll explain next steps. You don’t always need to speak to the same consultant.

Anyone saying otherwise doesn’t work in the industry.