CALL FOR A FREE TOTAL LOSS APRAISAL CLAUSE CLAIM REVIEW 503-420-3001

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Leverage

AUTO APPRAISALS

TOTAL LOSS APPRAISALS

Automotive Insurance Total Loss Appraisals and Negotiation by an Oregon Licensed and Certified Total Loss Appraiser.

Is your insurance company Offering an unfair offer that is less than what your totaled vehicle is worth?

We can help! You need a professional on your side that doesn’t work for the insurance companies. You deserve a fair settlement and hiring a Total Loss Auto Appraiser who specializes in Oregon total loss claims is your first step to receiving a Fair Total Loss Settlement.

We Don’t take a percentage and Oregon law guarantees you 100% Reimbursement for the appraisal if we increase the value over their last offer by just 1 cent.

Oregon Certified Vehicle Appraiser #V34-075 • We provide car appraisals for Totaled vehicle Insurance claims, Total Loss Appraisal Clause Disputes, Total Loss Appraisals and negotiation for stolen totaled Trucks and Cars, and other totaled vehicle appraisals.

Recently, many CCC ONE, Mitchell and JD Powers valuations have been coming in as little as 30 percent of the true market value for many Diesel Trucks with the 7.3, Duramax or Cummins engines. That’s what the appraisal clause in your policy is for. It allows you to dispute their lowball valuations.

Call us now for a free Claim Review: 503.420.3001

What is an Appraisal Clause?

An appraisal clause is a contractual process in your auto insurance policy used to settle disputes between insurers and their policyholders when the parties fail to agree on the amount that will be covered by the policy.

If your insurer refuses to provide a fair settlement amount on your vehicle’s loss, you have the option to resolve the issue by going through your insurance policy’s appraisal clause. This prevents insurance companies from taking advantage of you.

If you do not agree on the amount of the loss, you may demand (invoke) an appraisal. In this scenario, each party will choose an independent auto appraiser. In many cases, even their auto appraiser will be higher than the last offer your insurance company made to you. The appraisers will negotiate the value and come to an agreement, or have an umpire make a decision between the two appraisals. I’ve been doing this for over 13 years, and have only had 5 times where we had to go to an Umpire. .

The key to a successful appraisal clause dispute is finding an expert who has the necessary vehicle knowledge and negotiation skills to handle the various aspects of the process. This includes choosing an umpire and negotiating with the other parties involved. Our Oregon Licensed Auto Appraiser, Ken Nix, has been negotiating Oregon Total Loss disputes for over 13 years in Oregon. He’s local, only works for consumers, and isn’t indebted to the insurance companies like many appraisers who rely on them for income.

A few recent Settlements:

Springfield, Oregon. – Increase: $17,757 – 52% increase – State Farm – Michael L. – 2015 Lance Toy Hauler
Portland, Oregon – Increase: $4,396 – 70% Increase – Progressive – M. Connly, Portland, OR. 2001 Toyota Sequoia SR5
Elmira, Oregon – Increase: $2,324.00 – 17% Increase – Progressive – Nick A. 1999 Ford F-350
St. Helens, Oregon – Increase: $2,360.00 – 28% increase – Travelers – 2011 Toyota RAV4
Goldendale, Washington – Increase: $2,399.71 – 6% increase – State Farm – T. Casey 2016 RAM 2500 Laramie Longhorn
Estacada, Oregon – Increase: $5,177.02 – 118% Increase – Progressive – T. Harrington 2002 Subaru WRX
Hillsboro, Oregon – Increase: $6,590.00 – 34% Increase – USAA – R. McCarthy – 2008 Dodge Ram 3500 Diesel
Portland, Oregon – Increase: $10,426.00 – 329% Increase – State Farm – R. Estrada – 1990 Harley Davideson FLHS Electic Glide
Hillsboro, Oregon – Increase: $6,590.00 – 34% Increase – USAA – R. McCarthy – 2008 Dodge Ram 3500 Diesel

Watch our Videos to better understand the Appraisal Clause Process

CALL NOW - FOR A FREE TOTAL LOSS CLAIM REVIEW 503-420-3001

What Clients Are Saying About Leverage Auto Appraisals

Excellent

Leverage Auto Appraisals |Total Loss Appraiser

4.9

Based on 78 reviews

amy boynton

Ken Nix, Leverage Auto Appraisals, Portland Oregon★★★★★★★★★★If I could, I'd give Ken 10 ★s!! Ken Nix is a great advocate!! We were the original owners of a 1991 Toyota Land Cruiser; it was stolen from the “secured” parking garage at our apartment in downtown Portland. We hardly ever drove it, so we didn't discover the cruiser was stolen for nearly a week. A couple days later I fell and broke my jaw & 2 ribs, so we had a LOT of stress going on. PDXstolencars (dot) com helped us locate the car, but the thieves totaled it - then State Farm tried to lowball us on the ACV.I started doing research on what to do when your insurance company undervalues your total loss vehicle and “stumbled upon” Ken Nix; well, that must have been an act of Grace, because Ken negotiated our settlement and not only got an increase in our ACV payout, but also helped alleviate the intense stress of the situation.When one is facing an unfamiliar state of affairs (i.e. the loss of your 33 yr old beloved land cruiser that's recently transitioned to the status of a “collector's car”), one needs an advocate that's not only well-versed in the domain of vehicle valuation and appraisal, but also knows the local players involved. In Oregon, you also need that appraiser to be licensed w/the Oregon Dept of Transportation.Ken Nix is your guy!! Ken ONLY advocates for regular people, not for the insurance companies. Everything he told us was accurate, and it all played out just as he expected. If you're facing the total loss of your vehicle, just call Ken Nix… you'll be glad you did!! ★★★★★★★★★★

Travis

Ken was excellent to work with and really is an expert in his field. He does everything he can to help and got me over $4,000 more than my insurance's initial offer. Highly recommend getting yourself a quality appraiser like Ken.

Tim Moore

Ken helped me through a tough total loss (theft) of a unique truck. I was getting nowhere with the insurance companies and thanks to Ken I feel that we reached a fair settlement.

todd marshall

Ken is the man, understands in real time the games the insurance company plays. Thanks Ken, nice work.

Response from the owner: Todd, as the Senior Assistant Attorney General at the Oregon Department of Justice, it is a sincere honor to meet your standards. I am extremely grateful for the invaluable insights and knowledge you have shared with me regarding Oregon law and total loss claims. Honestly, I feel I was just along for the ride, watching a master at work. I really enjoyed working with you. It was so funny that they just kept digging a deeper hole because they didn't know who you were. You're a true unsung hero to consumers throughout Oregon. Keep up the great work. - Ken

Anshuman Thakur

The whole process took more than 75 days but Ken was able to negotiate $13K more from the insurance company. Thanks!

Response from the owner: Thank you for taking the time to write a review Anshuman! It is truly appreciated. I share your frustration with the extended duration of the process, particularly for vehicles like yours, where it appears that the insurance company might be leveraging the payout period to their advantage. Wasn't always like this, and I hope it becomes easier again. We're just dealing with so many new people at the insurance companies and they aren't hiring as many local appraisers as the used to do. Luckily we worked with a local appraiser on this who understood our market, instead of someone from 1,000 miles away. My aim is always to streamline these proceedings, and it would indeed be faster if insurers acknowledged the rightful value of vehicles before it has to go to appraisal clause. Your trust in me handling your claim is greatly appreciated! Thank you for your patience and sticking with me.- Ken

Web Silvis

Ken is a superhero.It has become increasingly difficult to get a fair settlement from insurance companies. It is their job to settle a claim as cheap as possible and it's my understanding that some companies even offer bonuses to your adjuster when the claim is settled for less than it could have been. Don't fall for the biased CCC One valuations!I was offered less than market value for my totaled car, calling it "actual cash value". When I kindly suggested that they were not being fair, they LOWERED the original offer by about $1000.The insurance appointed their own "independent" appraiser that agreed with their low ball value (no surprise.) Ken stepped in and held them accountable. He got me even MORE than I was asking for my car, raising my valuation by nearly 30% and my insurance company paid his fee because Oregon law requires them to if Ken increases the settlement by even 1¢!Be patient with Ken, some cases are harder than others and he is a "one man show". Trust his process and he will get you good results!

Response from the owner: Thanks for the superhero shout-out! Made me smile, especially since those "superhero rules" are more than just decoration in my office—I take 'em seriously!You hit the nail on the head about the insurance game. It's frustrating how they play hardball, lowballing offers and then daring to slash the price further when challenged. It's like they're testing to see if we'll just fold and accept whatever crumbs they throw our way.Your situation was a classic case of the insurance runaround. Stepping in to challenge that was exactly the kind of mission I gear up for. I'm glad I didn’t just meet your expectations. And yep, thanks to Oregon law, State Farm insurance company had to foot the bill for my fees, which is always a satisfying bonus for my clients in the end!I know my one-man operation can test patience sometimes, but I'm all about quality over quantity. Your trust in me paid off, and we showed them what fairness really looks like.Thanks a ton for your support and for sharing your story. It's experiences like yours that fire me up and keep me fighting the good fight. If you or anyone you need help again, I'm just a call or email away. Here’s to standing up to the giants and winning! - Ken

John Tucker

This is my first time with Ken. He certainly knows what he’s doing so listen to him. He came thru for us way more than expected, he’s actually a 10.

Response from the owner: A Ten? Thank you for the compliment, but I'm not quite that pretty John, although my wife says I'm a solid 8. LOL Thank you for taking the time to write a review. I really appreciate your trust in me. - Ken

I have used Ken 2 times in the last 10 years. For the lowest rate around for this service he brought my claim up over $10,000 both times.On my last claim he found out that progressive has used a salvage titled vehicle as a comparable to my immaculate low mile diesel truck which actually got me paid back for the trucks current value.I recommend Ken on a regular basis to my friends who are unaware of what insurance companies try to do to you. I can tell you from experience he is a true car enthusiast and will go ABOVE AND BEYOND for his customers and he will fight for you. I wouldn’t be driving the truck I have now without his help.Thanks again, Ken!Keep doing what you’re doing! You’re the best. Hope all is well.

Response from the owner: We did knock it out of the park a couple of times didn't we? I really appreciate you and always love to see previous clients or their friends, although I hope you never do need me again. I'd prefer you just have a safe happy life. - Ken

Tisha Ticknor

Ken was very helpful and provided very sound advise. I appreciate the time he took to advise me and will definitely keep his information if I ever find a need to have a vehicle appraisal.Thank you Ken!

scotty hansen

I came to Ken after I had a feeling that progressive was undervaluing my claim. He agreed and pushed hard to help get the proper value when it comes to my vehicle. He reviewed their evaluation and explained to me why he would be able to get me more before I paid him. Then afterwards He made sure to stay communicative with me and helped to make sure that he was doing all he could to assure that I was getting a proper value for my vehicle. I’m grateful to Ken and would recommend his appraisal service to anyone who has doubts about the value of their vehicle when it comes to total loss claims.

Marisa Harris

I e-mailed Ken an appraisal from All State. He gave me very detailed answers regarding all of my questions and responded promptly! He seems like a great guy to do business with and I appreciated all of his help!

King King

So first of all Ken knew everyone in industry which set me at ease. Insurance tried to rip me off and give me 18150z Ken got me 26000 in little under 3 weeks. Extra 8000 almost. My man. Great job

Adam Springer

Ken advocated for my client when the insurance company wouldn't play fair. Less than a week after they received his appraisal, the insurance company paid her 50% more than their previous top offer!

Scott McGraw

If your insurance company is declaring your car a total loss then you absolutely need to call Ken Nix. My insurance company only offered me $4,400 for my car. My car was old, but it had low miles. When I contacted Ken, he immediately went to work on our case. He ended up getting us $6800 for our car -- which is more than 150% what the insurance company offered.If your car is totaled, it is guaranteed that your insurance company will give you a low offer and try to rip you off. Ken does all the work of dealing with the appraiser hired by the insurance company to negotiate on your behalf. Other places will quote you a lower price than Ken, but they will just present you a report and you are on your own. Ken actually negotiates with the insurance company's appraiser to get you the best deal.Also -- if you live in Oregon -- the insurance company will have to reimburse you for the amount that you pay for Ken as long as Ken can get you at least one penny more than their offer.To summarize: I hired Ken and paid him $499. Ken was able to get me $2,400 more than my insurance company offered me and my insurance company reimbursed me for the $499 that I paid Ken.Just send Ken your insurance company's valuation report and if he knows that he can get you more, he will take your case and you will be reimbursed for what you paid him. You literally have nothing to lose.

Response from the owner: Thank you so much for your glowing review! I'm thrilled to hear about the success we achieved together with your total loss claim on the 2003 Toyota Prius. It's always my goal to make sure clients like you get the fair market value you deserve, not just what the insurance company initially offers.Dealing with California Casualty, brought its challenges, especially considering the age of your car versus its low mileage, which they significantly undervalued. It's a classic example of insurance companies trying to lowball, but we proved that your Prius was worth much more, achieving a 52 percent increase.Your situation highlights why it's crucial to have someone in your corner who’s willing to roll up their sleeves and negotiate directly with the insurance appraiser. Unlike some services that just hand over a report and leave you to fend for yourself, I'm committed to seeing the process through, ensuring we reach the best possible outcome.And yes, for Oregon residents, it's a win-win situation. The fact that you got reimbursed the fee for my services is just icing on the cake. I haven't raised our fee for over 6 years, even though I'm having to pay a lot more for research tools. Oregon reimbursement policy is something many don't know about, and I'm glad we could use it to your advantage.I appreciate your kind words and the trust you placed in Leverage Auto Appraisals. Stories like yours are why I do what I do—fighting to get every penny my clients deserve. If you or someone you know ever needs help again, I’m just a call away. Thanks again for sharing your experience and helping spread the word about the importance of the Total Loss Appraisal process. - Ken

Tyler Michael

Response from the owner: Thank you for the five-star review, Tyler. It was indeed a rewarding experience to handle the Total Loss Appraisal for your Dodge Ram Diesel one-ton truck, especially securing a substantial increase of $9,645.33 in your payout. It's astonishing how frequently the CCC ONE valuations fall short by $10,000 to $20,000 for diesel trucks, significantly underestimating their true value. Your recognition means a lot, and I'm delighted we could achieve such a positive outcome for you. Working with you was a pleasure, and I'm here to assist with any future appraisal needs you might have, make sure to submit the copy of the invoice to Geico so they can reimburse you for the fees you paid me. Thank you once again for the five stars and the opportunity to serve you!. - Ken

Ross J

Ken and his staff were fantastic. I found his services via google, and his reviews are what sold me. He's a talker, but his results speak for themselves. My insurance company paid me about $4k more for my vehicle than they would have if I had not sought Ken's help. Ken, I really appreciate your time and attention to detail. Thank you!

Response from the owner: Thank you for your kind words, Ross. Your observation hits the mark—I do talk a lot, I'm very passionate in ensuring my clients receive fair compensation, rather than accepting the undervalued offers that are all too common. I also do my best to be very transparent on the process and what to expect so there are no surprises. If I can answer those questions before they're asked later on, it avails me with more time working my client's claims, rather than answering questions over multiple phone calls. As an Oregon Certified Auto Appraiser, it was gratifying to negotiate a $4,000 increase on your 2015 Ford Transit Cargo Van T-250 with Safeco. The initial assessment by CCC ONE, which deducted an additional $2,687 for the condition of your vehicle, despite your truck having 80,000 fewer miles than a comparable model, was perplexing, but unfortunately, very common. The specifics of these condition adjustments, often ending in amounts slightly over $50—yours being $2,687, for instance—always strike me as peculiar. Is it mere coincidence that these condition values exceed $50 in the ending number rounding them closer to $100, or is there more to it? It's details like these that reinforce the importance of a meticulous Total Loss Appraisal process, ensuring clients like you are not shortchanged. Your satisfaction is a testament to the value of persistence and expertise in navigating these claims. Thank you again for trusting me with your appraisal, and I'm here should you need assistance in the future. PS. Make sure to send a copy of the invoice to Safeco so they can reimburse you for my services. - Ken

WHY CALL THE BUSINESS LEVERAGE AUTO APPRAISALS?

Our name sorta pays homage to a TV series that ran from 2008 to 2012. It was about a group of unsavory characters that banded together to form a team to help the underdogs. Their tagline was “The rich and powerful take what they want, we steal it back for you. Of course, we don’t steal anything. We do negotiate for average people against companies that are worth up to 700 BIllion Dollars. We feel the little guy should be represented by a well rounded appraiser. The show was actually filmed here in Portland, Oregon. Although, for the first 4 seasons, it was fictionally based in Boston. The “crew” was composed of a Mastermind, Hacker, Thief, Grifter, and Hitter”. Although I’m not a team, I do bring some diverse traits to the table. To get a little taste of the Leverage TV Show, here’s a link to a the Leverage Intro on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsHQjVMtjrA

YOu can also catch both the old Leverage TV series on Prime TV or the new Leverage Redemption series also on Prime TV.

WHO IS KEN NIX

Picture of Ken Nix, who is an Oregon Certified and Licensed Vehicle Appraiser who specializes in Oregon Total Loss Vehicle Disputes.

Ken Nix is a local Oregon Certified and Licensed Vehicle appraiser who has been authorized by ODOT to appraise vehicles in Oregon for over 12 years.
Ken started in the automotive industry in the 1980s and has sold and appraised tens of thousands of vehicles including late model cars and trucks, Exotics, Muscle Cars, Street Rods, Vintage, Classics, Street Rods, Camper Conversions, and even Japanese right-hand drive vans while working for multiple franchises over 20 years. Ken is the independent appraiser chosen by Ron Tonkin Gran Turismo for independent vehicle assessments.
Previously employed by Diversiform and Reynolds and Reynolds. Ken worked for years with local Automotive Dealers to market vehicles. Hundreds of Dealership owners, managers, and staff know and trust him. Ken also worked with Lanphere Enterprises, and many other local dealers to provide digital solutions for automotive marketing.
Ken is the founder of Volkswagen Owners Club, My GTI, and Jetta Junkie and was an Administrator for Autoguide.com for over 10 years.
Ken’s wife jokes that sometimes she’s married to Liam Neeson because Ken has a very particular set of skills, skills he’s acquired over a very long career.

Ken has actual long term automotive sales, appraisal and negotiation experience. Beware long term businesses with inexperienced vehicle appraisers claiming decades of experience because a relative founded the business. Make sure your automotive appraiser has the real world experience to back up their claims.
Ken’s background in training salespeople on Product Knowledge, combined with auto body repair assessment experience and his computer background provides negotiating leverage over opposing appraisers. The ability to spot bad repairs from prior damage on an opposing appraiser’s comparables to discrediting salt state and flood damaged vehicles used by your insurance company’s valuations from CCC One and Mitchell / J.D. Powers to lowball your vehicle.
Expert Negotiator. Personally trained one on one by Zig Ziglar, Tom Stuker, and Grant Cordone. Over 45 years experience as a professional negotiator.
Ken’s Automotive, Computer Technology, Legal Reseach, and Negotiating background provides a very specific skill set that makes him a nightmare to opposing appraisers.

Recent Total Loss Appraisal Clause Claim Settlements

2005 GMC 3500 SLT

Insurance Company: Progressive
Settlement Increase: $6297.07
Percentage Increase: 37%
Portland, Oregon

Details

Total Loss Dispute Appraisal and negotiation.
Insurance Offer: $17,202.93
Settlement: $23,500.00
Client: Cody B.
Final Cost to client for our services after reimbursement from their insurance company: $0.00

2002 Toyota Sequoia Limited

Insurance Company: Geico
Settlement Increase: $4,320
Percentage Increase: 84%
Hillsboro, Oregon

Details

Total Loss Dispute Appraisal and negotiation.
Insurance Offer: $5,180.00
Settlement: $9,500.00
Client: Nathaniel M.
Final Cost to client for our services after reimbursement from their insurance company: $0.00

2004 Porsche Cayenne Turbo

Insurance Company: Progessive
Settlement Increase: $7,971
Percentage Increase: 77%
Portland, Oregon

Details

Total Loss Dispute Appraisal and negotiation.
Insurance Offer: $10,428.68
Settlement: $18,400.00
Client: Alexandre B.
Final Cost to client for our services after reimbursement from their insurance company: $0.00

2018 Hyundai Elantra

Insurance Company: Geico
Settlement Increase: $1,714.00
Percentage Increase: 12%
Portland, Oregon

Details

Total Loss Dispute Appraisal and negotiation.
Insurance Offer: $14,786.00
Settlement: $16,500.00
Client: Sadie B.
Final Cost to client for our services after reimbursement from their insurance company: $0.00

2014 Jaguar XJ

Insurance Company: Allstate
Settlement Increase: $4093.00
Percentage Increase: 19%
Portland, Oregon

Details

Total Loss Dispute Appraisal and negotiation.
Insurance Offer: $5,180.00
Settlement: $9,500.00
Client: Kenneth P.
Final Cost to client for our services after reimbursement from their insurance company: $0.00

1971 Ford Bronco

Insurance Company: USAA
Settlement Increase: $8,742.00
Percentage Increase: 14%
Klamath Falls, Oregon

Details

Total Loss Dispute Appraisal and negotiation.
Insurance Offer: $63,258
Settlement: $72,000.00
Client: Thomas H.
Final Cost to client for our services after reimbursement from their insurance company: $0.00

2005 Dodge Neon SRT-4

Insurance Company: Progressive
Settlement Increase: $8,083.00
Percentage Increase: 178%
Yakima, Washington

Details

Total Loss Dispute Appraisal and negotiation.
Insurance Offer: $4,543.00
Settlement: $12,626.00
Client: Alex, C.
Final Cost to client for our services (Washington Does Not have a law that demands reimbursement, but his tax reimbursement increase was approximately $711.30, which was more than the cost of the appraisal): $499.00

2007 Toyota Prius

Insurance Company: Progressive
Settlement Increase: $5,550.00
Percentage Increase: 75%
Portland, Oregon

Details

Total Loss Dispute Appraisal and negotiation.
Insurance Offer: $7,449.95
Settlement: $13,000.00
Client: Grant M.
Final Cost to client for our services after reimbursement from their insurance company: $0.00

1999 Honda Civic DX

Insurance Company: Progressive
Settlement Increase: $3,529.09.00
Percentage Increase: 180%
Vancouver, WA

Details

Total Loss Dispute Appraisal and negotiation.
Insurance Offer: $1,970.91
Settlement: $5,500
Client: Matt S.
Final Cost to client for our services after reimbursement from their insurance company: $499 (Washington Does not have a law that demands reimbursement like Oregon does. But, the client also received an additional $310.00 in taxes. So his net increase was $3,340.00)

2012 Toyota Prius V Five

Insurance Company: State Farm
Settlement Increase: $8,044.33
Percentage Increase: 63%
Vancouver, Washington

Details

Total Loss Dispute Appraisal and negotiation.
Insurance Offer: $12,784.00 CCC ONE
Settlement: $20,828.33
Client: Jeffery H.
Final Cost to client for our services (Washington Does Not have a law that guarantees reimbursement, but his tax reimbursement increase was approximately $707.90, which alone was more than the cost of the appraisal): $499.00

1981 Chevrolet C10 Pickup

Insurance Company: Progressive
Settlement Increase: $7,028.67
Percentage Increase: 72%
Vancouver, Washington

Details

Total Loss Dispute Appraisal and negotiation.
Insurance Offer: $9,800.00 Mitchell – JD Powers Valuation
Settlement: $16,828.67
Client: Jeffery H.
Final Cost to client for our services (Washington Does Not have a law that guarantees reimbursement, but his tax reimbursement increase was approximately $618.52, which alone was more than the cost of the appraisal): $499.00

2001 Ford F250 SD

Insurance Company: Progressive
Settlement Increase: $9,581.69
Percentage Increase: 98%
Creswell, Oregon

Details

Total Loss Dispute Appraisal and negotiation.
Insurance Offer: $1,970.91
Settlement: $5,500
Client: Matt S.
Final Cost to client for our services after reimbursement from their insurance company: $499 (Washington Does not have a law that demands reimbursement like Oregon does. But, the client also received an additional $310.00 in taxes. So his net increase was $3,340.00)