Oregon Total Loss Appraisal Clause Disputes

Call Now for a Free Claim Review – 503.567.8900  Email: leveragepdx@gmail.com

In the aftermath of a car accident or in cases of theft, flood, Stolen vehicle or other unforeseen events, your vehicle might be declared a total loss by your insurance company. This term typically implies that repair costs are either equivalent to or surpass the vehicle’s retail market value. At Leverage Auto Appraisals, we believe you deserve the full retail market value for your car, inclusive of any relevant Tax, Title, and Licensing Fees, especially in Oregon where you have the legal right to dispute the insurance company’s offer if it seems unjustifiably low.

The key lies in the appraisal clause of your full coverage policy. This provision enables you to hire an independent auto appraiser, like Ken Nix, a certified expert in Oregon, to challenge what might seem like a lowball valuation from your insurer. If your insurance policy includes an appraisal provision, it typically follows these steps:

  1. Obtain an auto appraisal (at your expense).
  2. Your insurance company conducts its own appraisal (at its expense).
  3. Should there be a disagreement on the vehicle’s value, both appraisers select an umpire. The costs for the umpire are split equally between you and the insurance company.
  4. If the final appraised and negotiated value is higher than the insurance company’s last offer, they are obliged to reimburse you for reasonable appraisal expenses. (Oregon Policies Only)

At Leverage Auto Appraisals, we stand by your side in these critical moments. Whether your car has been involved in an accident, suffered damage from a storm, or been stolen, we provide a thorough, unbiased auto appraisal to ensure you receive a fair valuation. This is particularly crucial when the cost of repairs approaches or exceeds your vehicle’s market value.

In summary, don’t settle for less. If you’re facing a total loss situation in Oregon and want to dispute the insurance company’s offer, rely on Leverage Auto Appraisals for accurate, reliable, and fair auto appraisal services. Your vehicle’s true car value or vehicle value should always reflect its worth in the market, and we’re here to make sure that happens.

Oregon

Our all-inclusive auto appraisal service provides everything you need to determine the cash value of your vehicle. With us you can have peace of mind and confidence in your claim. Other companies may claim to be the best auto appraisers in the Pacific Northwest, but we don’t work for insurance companies like they do. Haven’t you already dealt with enough misdirection and manipulation from your insurance company?

  1. Is there an auto appraiser near me? I cover all of Oregon, specializing in helping consumers with Oregon total loss insurance claims as an Oregon Certified Auto Appraiser since 2010.
  2. Oregon Total Loss Laws. The big secret your claims rep doesn’t want you to know is if your Oregon Certified Auto Appraiser increases your claim just one cent, yes, ONE PENNY, your insurance company has to reimburse you for the cost of the total loss appraisal.
  3. How can I negotiate with car insurance adjusters for my car’s total loss. YOU DON’T HAVE TO. Under your policy’s appraisal clause, you’re allowed to hire a vehicle appraiser and he can negotiate the claim for you.
  4. How much more can I get? My average increase this year, is $5,768.19 or 44.78 percent of the vehicle’s value. .
  5. When’s the best time to invoke my appraisal clause? The sooner the better. Ken has over a decade of experience working appraisal clause claims. Many insurance companies are known to give claimants a list of things to do if they want a higher value. Most of the times, this is just a ploy to get you to waste time while your vehicle goes down in value, so they can gain an even bigger advantage.

We Can Help! We specialize in Oregon Total loss Insurance claim disputes. If your vehicle has been declared a total loss and your insurance company is not providing a fair offer, and you need help, we can provide… LEVERAGE to get the value you should be receiving. Don’t go it alone, our Oregon Licensed Auto Appraiser, Ken Nix, can help you recover your full value by producing an appraisal under the appraisal clause of your insurance policy and negotiations with your insurance company.

Oregon
Top rated
Leverage Auto Appraisals |Total Loss Appraiser4.9
Based on 206 reviews
Oregon
Mads S.
My first car and my first car accident. My Kia had 10 more years in her, and Ken made sure I got paid for those years by negotiating for $3K more on my reimbursement. He's timely, he's communicative, he's clear about what details can help or hinder your case, and it was real nice talking with him. As of now, my only loss was my stickers.
Photo from customer review
Oregon
Ray
To start off I live in California and thats where my claim happened, I called multiple appraisers and got quotes. Ken set the expectations and was able to exceed them. After everything ken was able to get me more money then what my insurance company was offering me. Even though Ken is based in Oregon if you live in a different state do not hesitate to use his services.
Oregon
Syed M Wasim
When both the at-fault driver's insurance and our own insurance came back with lowball offers on our total loss claim, Ken stepped in. He provided an accurate appraisal that reflected the true replacement value of our vehicle. He’s the best in the business—hopefully I won't need to, but I'd use his services again in a heartbeat and highly recommend him!
Oregon
Scott Searcy
Sooooo glad we discovered that we could hire our own appraiser! My son hit a deer and his SUV was soon determined a total loss. Our insurance rep lowballed us with their initial $$ offer which I tried to negotiate in vain getting nowhere for literally 4 weeks. They kept unfairly comping our 1 owner, private use vehicle against former rental cars and then discounted ours additionally by $1400 for not being in showroom condition "like their rental comps"! The more I researched their comps, the more frustrated I became... They even comped vehicles with previous accidents that sold earlier where I could not look up the Carfax history... Shame on them! Even with Carfax, I found most “1 owner vehicles” deceptive with the 1 owner being a major rental company… My rep(s) eventually referred me to their total loss adjuster and all they said repeatedly was a whole lot of NO. It was insanity, 4 weeks passed & I was left fuming getting nowhere fast on my own. I researched next options then found Leverage Auto Appraisals and Ken Nix. I was a little reluctant but made the investment to bring him on to help. He quickly jumped in our claim and took over the negotiations. Within a couple weeks he succeeded in getting us THOUSANDS $$ more than I was even expecting. The kicker was - in the end, our insurance company even had to pay Ken’s fees on top of everything! Valuable life lesson learned… If you get in a total loss situation, don’t waste your valuable time trying to negotiate with your insurance rep on your own. Hire a pro… I only wish I had discovered Ken sooner as I would not have wasted weeks on end researching fair comparable vehicles & building spreadsheets to try and sway our claim with zero luck. Ken’s a pro at this. Hire him, be patient and let him fight on equal footing with your insurance rep.
Photo from customer reviewPhoto from customer review
Response from the owner:Scott, thank you so much for taking the time to write such a detailed review and for sharing the photos of your son's SUV. It was a beautiful vehicle, and I completely understand why you were so frustrated after spending weeks trying to negotiate on your own. One thing your experience highlights is that negotiating a total loss claim is very different from simply finding a few comparable vehicles online. The valuation company controls the valuation process, and that can make it extremely difficult for consumers to negotiate against, when they can just change the rules since they are in charge of that valuation. Even when you find better vehicles that are closer in mileage, condition, or location, they are not always willing to use them. That is one of the reasons I have dedicated nearly my entire practice to total loss appraisal disputes. After more than 16 years specializing in these claims, I know what evidence is most likely to hold up during the appraisal clause process and where to focus my efforts. Unfortunately, it's not always as simple as producing an appraisal, I also have to discredit their comps, and build value in your vehicle. Luckily, I have over 30 years experience doing that. Thank you again for trusting me with your claim. I also appreciate you mentioning that the insurance company reimbursed the full cost of the appraisal. Most importantly, I am glad we were able to secure $3,500 more than they offered. I hope you and your son never have to go through another total loss, but if you ever have questions in the future, I am always happy to help. Kind regards, Ken
Oregon
Susyn Mckinley
I’m so glad I found Ken at Leverage Auto Appraisals! My insurance company's offer for my truck was so low, I knew that it wouldn’t come close to being able to replace it with something comparable. Ken responded quickly, reviewed my valuation, and took on the appraisal process. He was honest about what he thought he could accomplish without making promises. The final settlement was an increase of 149.4%! I’m in Bend, and working with Ken was absolutely worth it. Having someone knowledgeable handle the valuation dispute was such a relief and the results basically speak for themselves. If you’re questioning your insurance company’s total-loss offer, I highly recommend reaching out to him. Thank you, Ken!
Photo from customer review
Oregon
Larry Coxen
Ken Nix was a pleasure to work with. I contacted him after my insurance company totaled my Sprinter Van after a minor accident.l believed there total loss offer was unacceptable. He negotiated an increase of $5645.00. I highly recommend Ken if you find yourself in a similar situation dealing with your insurance co. Thanks Again Ken!
Oregon
Krista R
Ken was amazing, friendly and honest guy. My car was totaled after some idiot in Tahoe decided to pull a U-Turn on a blind corner and I was driving around said corner. I received a fair amount from State Farm, but I didn't feel like it was quite enough for what I had. Thankfully my state farm rep mentioned I could try to get more if I contact an auto appraiser, and he was right! I contacted Ken because of his great reviews, and I was so grateful I did. The entire experience was such a smooth process AND he got me an additional $3,000! And...your insurance company refunds you the entire cost of the appraisal process with Ken. I was so grateful I reached out to him, I highly recommend him to anyone that has the unfortunate reason to need this kind of service, but Ken at Leverage Auto is the guy to help! Thanks Ken for your help!
Oregon
Lee Nielsen
Ken was a great relief to me. I did not have to worry about anything. Ken just handled it. My 4Runner was rear ended and because it was so old the insurance company immediately totaled it. They offered me originally $9200 ish I said no and they upped the offer to $9,722. I let Ken do his thing and he ended up with a settlement for $13,250. Unfortunately this is not my first wreck. I know they’re several “wanna be” appraisers out there. Ken is one of the good guys. Thank you Ken.
Photo from customer review
Oregon
Louis Gomez
I was recently in a car accident that unfortunately totaled my truck. Thankfully, no one was hurt. I assumed my insurance company would handle everything smoothly, but from the start, I felt like I got the runaround. When they finally gave me a vehicle appraisal, the offer seemed far too low. I explained all the features, add-ons, and the truck’s low mileage, but none of that seemed to matter—they continued to make excuses and stick with a lowball offer. I felt completely stuck until a friend of my wife’s suggested I call Ken Nix. Under our policy, we had the right to get a second appraisal from an independent professional if we disagreed with the insurance company’s valuation. Reaching out to Ken was the best decision we could have made. He was incredibly professional, knowledgeable, and truly fought for our family. Thanks to his expertise and persistence, we received a fair payout that reflected the true value of our truck. We are extremely grateful for everything Ken did—his communication, dedication, and skill made the entire process so much easier. It’s reassuring to know there are people like Ken out there who will stand up for you when you need it most. If you’re feeling lost or want a second opinion, I wholeheartedly recommend giving Ken Nix a call. He knows exactly what he’s doing and genuinely cares about helping his clients.
Response from the owner:Louis, thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience. First and most importantly, I am very glad no one was hurt. A totaled truck is bad enough, but when the insurance company gives you the runaround and then refuses to recognize the low mileage, features, and added equipment, it can make a stressful situation feel ten times worse. I am grateful your wife’s friend pointed you in my direction, and I am honored you trusted me to help with your total loss appraisal clause claim here in Oregon. I truly do care about my clients and their families. My cousin, Harold Wayne Nix, was an esteemed attorney who passed away last month, and he spent his life fighting for the underdog. He was my role model in that way, and I try to carry that same spirit into every insurance claim car value dispute I handle. Thank you again for trusting Leverage Auto Appraisals. I am so glad we were able to stand up for the true value of your truck and help get your family a fair payout. Kind regards, Ken
Oregon
Ashley Cervantes
Ken Nix was an absolute joy to work with and he did exactly what he said he would. He was able to get my payout increased enough to pay off my loan, buy back my car, and have some left over to repair it too! He even reassured me when insurance's third party appraiser tried to scare me into thinking I had made a big mistake. Hiring Ken was the best decision I could have made and I am 100% satisfied with the outcome. I could not recommend him more. Thank you so much Ken!
Response from the owner:Ashley, thank you so much for the wonderful review. It was truly a pleasure working with you, and I am so glad we were able to increase the value of your **2015 Honda CR-V** by more than **$2,700**, a **43.8 percent increase** over the original offer. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for insurance company representatives or the appraisers they hire to say things that make policyholders question whether they are making the right decision. I am glad I was able to answer your questions and give you the confidence to stay the course. In the end, being able to pay off your loan, buy your CR-V back, and still have money left over to repair it worked out. That is exactly why I enjoy doing this work. Thank you again for your trust and your kind words. You were an absolute pleasure to work with, and I truly appreciate your recommendation. I wish you many more miles with your CR-V, and if you ever need anything in the future, do not hesitate to reach out. Kind regards, Ken
Oregon
Troy Violette
I can’t say enough good things about Leverage Auto and especially Ken. From start to finish, Ken was extremely communicative, professional, and genuinely friendly. He made the entire process much easier and less stressful than it would have been trying to deal with the insurance company on my own. Leverage Auto provided me everything needed to challenge the insurance company, and the results spoke for themselves. Their help ultimately resulted in a significantly higher payout than what the insurance company originally offered ($2k+). What stood out to me most was Ken himself. He was always responsive, easy to talk to, and genuinely seemed to care about helping me get treated fairly. You can tell he takes pride in what he does. We need more honest, hardworking people like Ken who are willing to fight for the little guy instead of just letting the big insurance companies have their way. I’m extremely grateful for the help and would absolutely recommend Leverage Auto to anyone dealing with an insurance company over the value of their vehicle. 5 stars all the way!
Response from the owner:Thank you so much, Troy. I really appreciate the kind words and especially your comments about communication and genuinely caring about the outcome. I do take a lot of pride in fighting for my clients, and I’m glad I was able to get you more than $2,000 above the insurance company’s offer. Your Volkswagen Golf TDI was an interesting one because the six speed manual transmission is actually more sought after, yet the CCC valuation relied on automatic transmission comparables. They also applied the same $1,469 condition deduction against your vehicle, even though yours was exceptional and in better condition than most of the comparable vehicles I found. Unfortunately, finding good comparables for these TDIs can be difficult because there simply are not many of them available. Sometimes I know a vehicle is worth more, but I still have to prove it with credible market evidence. Thank you again for trusting me to handle your total loss appraisal dispute and for the five stars, Troy. I’m glad I could make the process a little less stressful and help get the settlement closer to what your Golf TDI was actually worth. Kind regards, Ken
Oregon
K W
I had a somewhat rare version of a vehicle that was stolen. Insurance decided to compare it to a much more common and cheaper version and refused to budge. Luckily I found Leverage. Not only did Leverage get my insurance to compare to a like version, which almost doubled what I received, but they got me almost 50% more than the revised value. If your insurance is being stubborn with you talk to Leverage.
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for the great review and for trusting me with your claim. Cases involving rare or uncommon vehicles, especially trucks, can be some of the most challenging because insurance companies often try to compare them to more common, lower value models that simply are not the same. Condition and History are very important when it comes to rare or collectible vehicles. It can make the difference of that vehicle being a collectible, or just a generic car or truck. I was really happy we were able to get the valuation based on the correct version of your truck first, and then continue negotiating to increase the settlement even further. That is exactly why I never take the path of least resistance. If I believe the evidence supports a higher value, I'm going to do everything in my power to get that amount. Every vehicle deserves to be compared to what it actually is, not to a less valuable version that happens to be easier to find. Thank you again for your recommendation. Reviews like yours help others realize they do not have to accept an unfair valuation just because the insurance company says it is correct. It was a pleasure working with you, and I truly appreciate the opportunity to help. Kind regards, Ken

 

Oregon Total Loss Vehicle Appraisals

Has your Insurance Company deemed your vehicle a total loss? Are they not offering enough for your totaled car or truck? In your insurance policy, you have what is called an appraisal clause. The appraisal clause section is devised to allow you to dispute the offer your insurance company is providing.

If you do not agree with the value your own company offers, your policy may include an appraisal provision. Appraisal processes vary. Check your policy or ask the claims representative or contact us for help.

Typically:

  • You get an appraisal (you pay).
  • The company gets an appraisal (it pays).
  • If the appraisers don’t agree on the value, the two appraisers agree on an umpire. You and the company each pay half of the umpire’s cost.

According to OREGON LAW, Insurance companies must reimburse you for reasonable appraisal costs if the final appraised value of your vehicle is higher than the company’s last offer.

The first thing you need to do, is determine if it is a good decision to invoke your appraisal clause. LEVERAGE can help you by providing a free, no charge review of your total loss claim. This will provide you with the information to make a well informed decision as to whether you need to move forward with disputing your claim or not.

LEVERAGE specializes in Total Loss appraisals in Oregon. Unlike many large companies that use low generic staff to produce and negotiate your claim, with LEVERAGE, you get a highly qualified auto appraiser and negotiator to work with you to negotiate a fair claim so you can replace your vehicle, and move on with your life. Ken Nix works every claim himself to ensure we recover the maximum fair market value for you.

Why Hire Us?

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Oregon Licensed Auto Appraiser for over 13 Years

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Over 35 years Experience as a Professional Negotiator

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Over 18 years Automotive sales Experience. Experience with all types of vehicles. Not just an ex estimator or adjuster.

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Over 40 years of Automotive Experience

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Professionally Trained One on One by Zig Ziglar, Grant Cardone, and Tom Stuker.

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Worked with Hundreds of Dealer, GM's, and GSM's in Oregon while employed with Reynolds and Reynolds.

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Whether you're in Coos Bay, Bend, Eugene or Portland, Ken knows you're Used Car Market.

Vehicles We Sevice

We produce total loss appraisals for Acura, Alfa Romeo, Audi, Bentley, BMW, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Corvette, Dodge, Ferrari, Fiat, Ford, Freightliner, GMC, Honda, Hummer, Hyundai, Infiniti, International, Isuzu, Jaguar, Jeep, Kia, Lamborghini, Land Rover, Lexus, Lincoln, Maserati, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mercury, Mini-Cooper, Mitsubishi, Oldsmobile, Peterbilt, Plymouth, Pontiac, Porsche, RAM, Rolls Royce, Saab, Saturn, Scion, Shelby, Subaru, Toyota, Volkswagen, Volvo.

As well as older Diesel 1 ton and 3/4 ton Trucks with Powerstroke, Cummins, and Duramax Engines. We also provide Sprinter Van, Ram Promaster, VW Camper Vans, and other Conversion Van Total Loss Appraisals.

We also work Total Loss Claim Disputes on other specialty vehicles such as Heavy Trucks, Semi Trucks, Motorcycles, Classic Cars, Muscle Cars, Collectible Vehicles, Exotic Cars, Motor Coaches, Work Vans, Commercial Vehicles, and many more.

WHO IS KEN NIX

Oregon Total loss auto appraiser Ken Nix, specializing in Total Loss Appraisals for vehicles.

  • Ken Nix is a local Oregon Certified and Licensed Vehicle appraiser since April of 2010 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 with local Automotive Dealers, Sales, Service and Body shops 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.

OREGON LICENSED AUTO APPRAISER for over 13 years

 

Ken Nix's current Oregon Auto Appraisers Certification and License issued by ODOT

  • 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 Claim Dispute Recoveries

G. Genauer – Total Loss Dispute
Insurance Company: State Farm

Portland, Oregon
Vehicle: 2014 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen TDI
Offer: $16,174
Settled Value: $20,500
Increase: $4,326.00

S. Mead – Total Loss Dispute
Insurance Company: Geico

Prineville, Oregon
Vehicle: 5th Wheel Toy Hauler 2016 Keystone
Rv M-387 CARBON
Offer: $42,079
Settled Value: $51,700 – May 13, 2022
Increase: $9,621

S. Arkelian – Total Loss Dispute
Insurance Company: Progressive

Portland, Oregon
Vehicle: 2018 RAM 2500 Laramie Crew Diesel 2500
Offer: $59,152.21
Settled Value: $65,625 – May 11, 2022
Increase: $6.472.79

M. Smith – Total Loss Dispute
Insurance Company: Liberty Mutual

Portland, Oregon
Vehicle: 2003 Ford Super Duty F-250 King
Ranch Crew Cab
Offer: $14327.00
Settled Value: $19,995 – May 13, 2022
Increase: $5,668

C. Wilkinson – Total Loss Dispute
Insurance Company: Progressive

Portland, Oregon
Vehicle: 2004 Toyota Tacoma 4 Door Crew Cab
Offer: $22,024.90
Settled Value: $31,500 – May 4, 2022
Increase: $9,475.10

K. Johnson – Total Loss Dispute
Insurance Company: Progressive

Portland, Oregon
Vehicle: 1995 TOYOTA LANDCRUISER
Offer: $20,653.83
Settled Value: $29,500.00
Increase: $8,846.17

LEVERAGE

Auto Appraisals

(503) 420-3001

Location

Portland, OR. 97225

Email

leveragepdx@gmail.com

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Tue: 8am – 8pm
Wed: 8am – 8pm
Thur: 8am – 8pm
Fri: 8am – 8pm
Sat: 8am – 8pm
Sun: 8am – 8pm

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