Oregon total loss appraisal specialists
Your vehicle is worth
getting right.
A low insurance offer can leave you thousands short. Get an independent total loss appraisal from a local specialist who researches the evidence and stands behind your vehicle’s value.
We work for consumers. We do not work for insurance companies.
Specializing in Oregon total loss claims. Also serving Washington.
A specialist on your side
A valuation report is a starting point.
It deserves a closer look.
Wrong equipment. Weak comparable vehicles. Questionable mileage or condition adjustments. Small errors in a CCC ONE, Mitchell, or other valuation report can affect the offer for your totaled vehicle.
Ken investigates the details, develops an independent opinion of value, and handles appraisal-clause negotiation with the insurance company’s appraiser.
Let’s review your offer →Watch: Why choose Leverage Auto Appraisals.
Built around your claim
Real research. Personal attention.
A clearly stated flat fee.
Check the vehicles behind the number.
We examine equipment, mileage, history, condition, location, and availability to determine whether the insurer’s comparables make sense.
Technology supported by judgment.
Research tools and AI help us find and analyze information. Human verification and an experienced appraiser guide the valuation.
More than a report to hand over.
For appraisal-clause assignments, direct negotiation with the opposing appraiser is included. No hourly negotiation bill or percentage of your increase.
Hear from our customers
What Clients Are Saying About
Leverage Auto Appraisals
See all of our reviews here: Leverage Auto Appraisals reviews.
Review ratings and counts can change. Read the live reviews for current details.
Your next step, made clear
Start with the offer.
Understand your options.
Send your valuation report.
Share the insurer’s complete report and your vehicle information through our free claim-review form.
Discuss the right next step.
We review the situation, explain our service, and confirm the scope and flat appraisal fee before you hire us.
Put evidence behind your dispute.
For an eligible appraisal-clause claim, we prepare the valuation and work directly with the opposing appraiser.
Oregon vehicle appraiser certificate #V34-075.
Select the certificate to view it larger.
Local knowledge. Hands-on experience.
Who is Ken Nix?
Ken is an Oregon-certified vehicle appraiser specializing in consumer total loss claims, with more than 16 years negotiating vehicle insurance claims and over 40 years of automotive sales and negotiation experience.
His background extends from everyday cars and diesel trucks to exotics, classics, street rods, camper conversions, and Japanese right-hand-drive vans. He understands vehicles as products, not just entries in a database.
- Dealership experience: Automotive sales, appraisals, and work with local dealers through Diversiform, Reynolds and Reynolds, and Lanphere Enterprises.
- A trained eye: Experience assessing prior damage and repair quality helps him question misleading condition assumptions and weak comparables.
- Research experience: Founder of Volkswagen Owners Club, My GTI, and Jetta Junkie, and a former Autoguide.com administrator.
- Personal accountability: Ken researches, prepares, defends, and negotiates his appraisal-clause assignments.
Oregon total loss claims are our specialty. You get a local professional who understands the vehicle market and takes the time to investigate your claim.
Understand the process
How does the appraisal clause work?
An appraisal clause is a process in your own insurance policy for resolving a disagreement about the amount of a covered loss. Your policy determines the procedure and when it applies.
Watch Ken explain the process, then ask us to review your situation. A claim against the other driver’s insurer follows a different path.
Ask about your total loss claim →Watch: Total loss in Oregon, how to get more.
Examples from our work
Recent Total Loss Claims
Selected results from claims handled by Leverage. Every vehicle and claim is different; these examples do not guarantee a similar outcome.
2005 Dodge Ram 3500 SLT
+$5,750.00
Settlement increase
2020 Ford F-550
+$25,624.15
Settlement increase
2017 Nissan Sentra "Stolen Vehicle"
+$4,746.00
Settlement increase
2019 Ford Ranger Lariat SuperCrew
+$2,573.00
Settlement increase
Mitsubishi EVO
+$9,417.00
Settlement increase
2020 GMC Yukon SLT 4WD
+$10,286.00
Settlement increase
The story behind the name
Why Is Our Company Called Leverage Auto Appraisals?
The name Leverage Auto Appraisals was inspired by the television series Leverage that was based and filmed here in Portland, Oregon. They were a team of specialists, a Hacker, Grifter, Hitter, Thief and Mastermind, who used their unique skills to help ordinary people stand up to powerful organizations including insurance companies. That concept has always resonated with me.
While I'm not part of a team like the one on the show, I've spent more than 45 years building expertise in negotiation, automotive valuation, dealership operations, software development, technology, and research. My goal has always been simple, to use those skills to level the playing field for consumers facing billion dollar insurance companies.
Leverage is more than just a company name. It's a philosophy.
Today, that philosophy extends to my family. My oldest son Nico Nix, owns Total Loss Northwest, my youngest son, Austin Nix owns Diminished Value of Oregon . Both are also Oregon Licensed Auto Appraisers and Austin is also an Oregon Licensed Public Adjuster. All three of us work exclusively for consumers, never insurance companies. We've built our businesses on the same principles of integrity, independence, and helping families receive the fair treatment they deserve.
To me, that's what Leverage has always meant. Giving ordinary people the experience, knowledge, and advocacy needed to stand on equal footing with the largest companies in the industry.
To get a little taste of the Leverage TV Show, here's a link to the Leverage intro on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsHQjVMtjrA
Oregon is our specialty
Before you accept the number,
get a second opinion.
From Portland and the Willamette Valley to the coast, central Oregon, and southern Oregon, we help consumers take a closer look at total loss offers. We also serve Washington.
Start with a free claim review.
Send the insurer’s valuation report and tell us what concerns you. We’ll help you understand whether our appraisal service is a fit.
Main line answered 24/7. Ken’s direct contact hours are Monday–Friday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Pacific.
