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:

Obtain an auto appraisal (at your expense).
Your insurance company conducts its own appraisal (at its expense).
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.
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?

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.
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.
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.
How much more can I get? My average increase this year, is $5,768.19 or 44.78 percent of the vehicle’s value. .
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.

Excellent

Leverage Auto Appraisals |Total Loss Appraiser

4.9

Based on 122 reviews

jake patterson

Ken was awesome! He went above and beyond and was able to get more than double the value I was offered by my insurance company. Really understood the value of my vehicle as it was a rare car! He was also very quick and helped reached a settlement quickly! Would highly recommend and strongly advise hiring if the value of your vehicle is in question.

Response from the owner: Thank you for the awesome review! I’m glad we were able to secure a **$6,955 increase** on your **2003 Lexus IS 300** claim with **State Farm**, bringing your total settlement to **$11,900**—a **140.6% increase** over their original lowball offer of **$4,945**. Rare and unique vehicles are often undervalued because insurers rely on flawed automated systems that fail to recognize their true market worth. I make it a priority to research and present accurate valuations so my clients get what they actually deserve. I'm also happy we were able to reach a fair settlement quickly! Additionally, per **Oregon law OAR 836-080-0240**, **State Farm was required to reimburse you 100% of our appraisal fee**, meaning you not only secured a significantly higher payout but also had your appraisal costs fully covered. I truly appreciate your recommendation, and if you ever need help in the future, don’t hesitate to reach out. Thanks again for trusting me with your claim! —Ken

Ryan R

I had a tricky auto claim with my insurance. Ken spent lots of time working on our claim and negotiated a 14% higher appraisal award!

Response from the owner: Thank you for sharing your experience! This was definitely a tricky claim, and the negotiation with the opposing appraiser was particularly tough, but I’m glad we were able to secure a **$7,006 increase**—bringing your total settlement from **$47,056.80 to $54,063.00**, a **14% higher appraisal award**. It’s also important to mention that if you had used the **"FAIR"** company, they would have charged **$300 upfront** for the appraisal and then taken **15% of the increase**—which in your case would have been an additional **$1,050.90**. That means you would have lost **$1,350.90** from your final settlement, and **Progressive would have only been required to reimburse you for the $300 appraisal fee**. The rest would have come straight out of your pocket. In my personal opinion, I feel this is akin to a **bait-and-switch scam**—they lure people in with a low initial fee, but once they secure an increase, they take a significant percentage of the payout. Meanwhile, they market themselves as a no-risk option, when in reality, clients end up paying far more than they should. By choosing me, you **kept 100% of the increase**, and **Progressive was required to reimburse you for the full cost of our appraisal** as per **Oregon law OAR 836-080-0240**. That’s how it should be—fair, transparent, and in the best interest of the policyholder. I appreciate you trusting me to fight for a fair valuation, and I’m glad we could achieve this strong result. If you ever need assistance again, don’t hesitate to reach out. Thanks again for your review and for choosing me to handle your claim! —Ken

Beau Loid

Ken is a straight shooter. No BS. Very impressed with the service. I will definitely be using him in the future if needed. Thanks Ken!

Timothy O'Connor

Ken is the man! He’s super informative and educates you through out the process and genuinely cares about you which is a huge breadth of fresh air after dealing with insurance agents. Also, at the end of the day he gets the job done. I’ve used him twice and each time my appraisal went up at least 130%! Ken’s the man!

Response from the owner: Thank you for your continued trust in my services and for taking the time to share your experience. I am thrilled to have successfully assisted you with your Honda Element claim, resulting in a $4,000 increase, and now again with your Volkswagen claim, achieving another significant increase of over $4,000.Your case highlights the importance of a thorough and expert appraisal process. The CCC ONE valuation initially deducted $1,895 from your vehicle compared to a similar vehicle with over 18,000 more miles, which was a clear oversight. Additionally, State Farm's CCC ONE valuation used comparables that were not the correct model trim, without making necessary adjustments for this discrepancy. Such inaccuracies can severely impact the Actual Cash Value and ultimately your settlement.As a licensed auto appraiser specializing in Total Loss Appraisal and Car Appraisal, my goal is to ensure that clients like you receive fair and accurate valuations. I leverage local market knowledge and detailed research to dispute total loss insurance claims effectively. Your experience underscores the critical need to challenge unfair valuations and seek adjustments based on accurate comparables and realistic market conditions.It's important to note that many appraisers out there work for insurance companies. While they may claim to be unbiased and "on your side," if they are earning $100k a year from claims provided by insurance companies, their loyalty might not truly lie with the consumer. Recently, there has been an influx of appraisers advertising in the Oregon area from places like Seattle, California, Georgia, and even Canada. These appraisers often don't realize we don't have an 8% sales tax in Oregon. They may claim to be "local," but in reality, they only have a PO Box in Oregon.I am grateful for your loyalty and pleased to see our efforts lead to such substantial financial gains. Your feedback is invaluable, and I remain committed to providing exceptional service and support to all my clients.Thank you once again for choosing my services for your total loss disputes. Should you or anyone you know need assistance with a total loss insurance claim, please do not hesitate to reach out.Best regards,Ken NixLeverage Auto Appraisals

Joel Rubicam

Ken did a fantastic job, both in helping us navigate the process and in achieving a fair result. The initial offer from our insurance company seemed unreasonably low, so I tried to negotiate a fair amount. It made a very small difference, but their final offer was still far too low. Thanks to Ken's knowledge and experience, our final settlement was 87% higher than that final offer from the insurance company. If you are in Oregon and your vehicle is declared a total loss, calling Leverage Auto Appraisals should unquestionably be your next step.

Response from the owner: Thank you for the fantastic review! I’m glad I could help you navigate the process and secure a $4,875 increase on your 2006 Honda Element total loss claim with State Farm—raising your settlement from $5,625 to $10,500, an 87% increase!Your experience is, unfortunately, a common one—insurance companies start with a lowball offer, and even when policyholders push back, they make only minimal adjustments. That’s why having an experienced appraiser on your side makes all the difference.I truly appreciate your trust and recommendation. If you ever need assistance again or know someone else facing a total loss, don’t hesitate to reach out. Thanks again for choosing Leverage Auto Appraisals!—Ken

Jason Connelly

Absolutely blown away. My insurance company was trying to rob me on the value of my car. I’m very pleased than they were able to negotiate a settlement from 20k up to almost 24k. Well worth the $500 that I even got reimbursed

Response from the owner: Thank you, Jason, for your kind words. In Oregon, insurance companies are required to reimburse the cost of the appraisal on an appraisal clause dispute if we increase the settlement by just one cent over the last offer accourding to Oregon law OAR 836-080-0240. My flat fee includes negotiation, unlike many companies that charge a low initial fee and then demand exorbitant amounts to negotiate the claim at an hourly rate or as much as 50% of the increase. FYI, if a company charges you $225 for an appraisal, then an additional $300 per hour to negotiate the claim settlement, according to Oregon law, they only owe you $225 reimbursement, even if they charged you $600 more for the negotiation. It's very concerning that many out-of-state appraisers are now targeting Oregon in the last few months, most appear to be working for the insurance companies as many of them are the same opposing appraisers I'm having to fight against. Some even claim to be "insiders" because of their previous work with insurers as adjusters..... Yeah, I bet they're just very ethical and would never be biased against someone paying them a small amount even though they're making $100k a year from the same insurance company. Then I look at the skyrocketing online advertising costs, driven up from $2.52 last August, to $92.09 per click over the last few months due to these new out of state appraisers. My question is what business model makes this logical? I've been very fortunate to have supportive clients like you who post reviews. This helps others understand that I strive to secure fair settlements, not low ball offers. I only do approximately 20-25 appraisals per month, so I'm not looking for the path of least resistance like some of these companies doing 150 appraisals per month. I actually work the claim and audit the opposing appraiser's appraisal and comps. Thank you Jason for helping spread the word! I appreciate you taking your time. Kind regards, Kenps. I apologize for ranting, but it's not fair what's going on lately. People pay their premiums, but are being low balled with comparable vehicles that have no photos, and questionable condition when they have a claim? Some of these valuations I'm seeing have comparables with Branded Titles, structural damage, 3-4 prior accidents, bad repairs, and even thousands in current damage. Things that make you go hmmmmmm..........

barrett rosteck

Ken took the time to talk me through this unfamiliar process and indicated he felt the initial insurance offer was a low-ball estimate. He was able to find comparable cars and confidently negotiate an increase on my behalf.I was contacted by the insurance's hired appraiser when they were looking for pre-accident condition details on my car and even they mentioned they had been in negotiations with Ken over many cases in the past. His years of experience paid off for me! Thank you.

Aaron Williams

Ken is a bulldog! If the insurance companies are putting the screws to you, Ken will help you get you claim right!Ken is friendly, knowledgable, thorough and trustworthy!

Response from the owner: Thank you for the awesome review! I appreciate the kind words and am glad I could help secure an **$8,395 increase** on your **State Farm total loss claim**. Insurance companies often try to minimize payouts, but I make sure my clients don’t get shortchanged. Thorough research, market knowledge, and persistence are key to getting a fair settlement. I truly appreciate your trust in me to handle your claim and fight for what you deserved. If you ever need assistance in the future, don’t hesitate to reach out. Thanks again for your support! —Ken

Mario skoro

Ken at Leverage Auto Appraisal was fantastic! State Farm’s initial offer for my totaled car was much lower, but Ken stepped in and got me an additional $2,400 for my 2006 Lexus is350. I would’ve loved to get even more, but that’s no fault of Ken’s—he truly went above and beyond. He was professional, knowledgeable, and made the process easy and stress-free. His stories made the experience enjoyable, too! If you’re dealing with a total loss, don’t settle—reach out to Ken and his team. His fee is reimbursed by the insurance company, so it’s a win-win, and he does all the heavy lifting. Highly recommend!

Response from the owner: Thank you for the kind words Mario. It was a pleasure speaking with you. I hope I didn't bore you too much. I try to provide a very transparent conversation so everyone is on the same page. Thank you again for choosing me as your auto appraiser. - Ken

Andrew Rohner

I highly recommend this service. I was able to secure a settlement over 50% higher than what was offered by my insurance company. Ken really came through for me.

So Vaun

Where do I begin and how do I thank Ken? Not many know about a person’s right to have an auto appraiser to negotiate a fair price for your vehicle! If you ever need an appraiser, you must get Ken on your side! We were being lowballed, and they didn’t want to really negotiate.I found Ken Nix, his business “Leverage Auto Appraisal” when he says he’s on your side, he truly is!He got me way more than I could have ever expected. Not only that, what I learned from his expertise, was an eye opener! he explains every step in great detail, and breaks it down so it all makes sense.I hope I never have to go through this again, but if we had to. Ken, you’re the man!Thank you, for your patience, understanding and for answering my many questions and walking me through this.OH! The best part my husband was one satisfied and amazed client!

Response from the owner: Thank you so much, Lavaune! I truly appreciate you taking the time to write a review, and I'm thrilled that both you and your husband were pleased with my services. I'm especially grateful that you mentioned my efforts to explain the process in detail. I always strive to ensure that my clients fully understand each step, even though the process can sometimes take time. Negotiating a claim involves many variables such as whether the insurance company picks a local appraiser, an out-of-area one, or even a large, well-connected company can all impact the timeline and outcome.This job certainly isn't stress-free, and my priority is always to make sure my clients are satisfied. If I worked for the insurance companies, I'd probably earn about $250 more per case on average, and I wouldn’t have to worry as much about public opinion, marketing, negotiating, or selling my appraisal services. But the path I’ve chosen, while challenging, I feel is the right one for me. It is fulfilling because I get to help people who are being taken advantage in most cases, and I’m committed to advocating for my clients and ensuring they know their rights and understand the process. Your recognition of these efforts means the world to me. Thank you again! - Ken

Chrissy Swartouy

Ken did a great job getting me top dollar for my Jeep! Well worth the money! I received about 33% more than what my insurance was going to pay me for my loss. You need an expert to negotiate with experts & Ken delivered. Just be very patient- it takes about 3-4 months during this process but well worth it! Highly recommended Ken with Leverage!

Response from the owner: Thank you for the kind words Chrissy. I truly appreciate your praise. Fortunately most claims do NOT take this long and typically wrap up within a week or two. However the timeline often depends on how long it takes the insurance company to hire an appraiser and it also depends on the opposing appraiser and the effort required to discredit their appraisal while defending my own.In your case we secured a $5,396 increase from State Farm’s final offer which is a fantastic result. I do believe your Jeep Wrangler was worth more given its lower mileage but being a 2004 with very low miles and in much better condition that 98% of 2004 Jeeps out there made it challenging to build a higher credible valuation with the available comparable vehicles. Many of the comps had higher miles, prior damage, improper repairs, or even current damage while being listed at much lower values. Which makes it harder to quantify or discredit, especially if there is no damage history or visible damage on the opposing appraiser's comps. In comparison someone could purchase a four-year newer Wrangler with about 10,000 more miles for the same value we settled for. That had to be considered in our negotiation.The extended timeline for your claim reflects my commitment to not settling for less. I will not take the path of least resistance or agree to a lowball offer just to expedite negotiations. If I believe a significant increase is achievable I continue to fight for my clients even if it takes longer.Recently negotiations have slowed due to the large volume of claims following the hurricanes. Many large appraisal companies hired by insurers are overwhelmed with appraisers handling 75 to 150 assignments per month which is far beyond what allows for quality work. In comparison, I only took on 25 assignments last month which gives me time to actually work each claim to the best of my ability. Many of these appraisers are from out of state and are not licensed or authorized to produce appraisals in Oregon and are using comps from the East Coast, Salt States, etc to lowball valueations. Over the past 14 years, I have been able to disqualify a large number of out of state appraisers. Unfortunately due to changes in ODOT's rules, since January 2024 it has become nearly impossible to disqualify these appraisers if they are working for an insurance company.Thank you again for your patience and trust in me. I am so glad we were able to achieve such a strong outcome for your claim.

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?

Oregon Licensed Auto Appraiser for over 13 Years

Over 35 years Experience as a Professional Negotiator

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

Over 40 years of Automotive Experience

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

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

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

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 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

Open Hours

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