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 125 reviews

Melissa Ramsey

Response from the owner: Thank you for the 5-star rating! I truly appreciate your support. I'm glad we were able to secure a **$2,752 increase** on your **2021 Subaru Crosstrek** claim. Every dollar counts when dealing with an undervalued settlement, and in addition to the increase, your insurance company was also required to **reimburse you for the cost of our appraisal**. If you ever need assistance with another appraisal or have any questions about the process, don’t hesitate to reach out. Your trust means a lot! —Ken

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

John Jr Smith

My name is Daniel, I was overwhelmed after my total lost in Oct-2024. I thought that the insurance would screw me over, but I found Ken Nix from auto leverage locally owned in Oregon. In less than a month he made all his effort and it did work. I got a total value of $8,800 on Monday 27th 2025, amazing work that he did. The guidance he has and the quality customer service are unmatchable. Going on a vacation with that money thanks to Mr.Ken.

Response from the owner: Thank you, Daniel! I truly appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. I know how overwhelming a total loss can be, especially when dealing with an insurance company that’s trying to undercut the true value of your vehicle. I’m glad I was able to step in and secure a **$8,800 settlement** on your **State Farm total loss claim** in less than a month. That’s exactly why I do what I do—to make sure people like you aren’t left shortchanged. Also, per **Oregon law OAR 836-080-0240**, **State Farm was required to reimburse you 100% of the appraisal fee**, meaning you got the full benefit of the increase without any out-of-pocket cost for the appraisal itself. Enjoy that well-deserved vacation, and if you ever need help in the future, don’t hesitate to reach out. Thanks again for trusting me with your claim! —Ken

aaron oblvn

Ken was super knowledgable and helpful in walking me through my insurance appraisal and helped me get an increase in the insurance offer. I'd use him again in a heartbeat and recommend him to anyone looking for help with insurance appraisals.

Response from the owner: Thank you for the kind words Aaron. I very happy I could put an additional $3,000 in your pocket. Thank you for choosing me as your auto apprasier.Kind regards, 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

Freddie Todd

I would give 10 stars if i could. Ken Nix of Leverage Auto Apprasials is very knowledgeable with years of experience. It is important to know that Ken has not worked for the insurance companies. This makes him a truly independent appraiser. Ken is transparent and keeps you in the loop. He increased my settlement $2,660 over what the insurance company offered. Very happy about that! Ken does his very best to get you the most money for your car. He was a great help to me in navigating the settlement process. I strongly and highly recommend Leverage Auto Appraisals. BTW from start to finish it took 4 business days to get the insurance company to agree to giving $2,660 more. The $499 fee was paid by the insurance company. Thank you Ken for all your help!! Keep up the good work!

Response from the owner: Thank you for the kind words Freddie. Fortunately, your claim went quickly because they hired a local appraiser as the opposing appraiser. I really appreciate you choosing me as your appraiser and expecially the 10 stars! 🙂 - KenAlso, just to clarify for others, Freddie initially paid my fee upfront, and State Farm had to reimburse the fee per Oregon Law OAR 836-080-0240 which states: "Your insurer must reimburse your reasonable appraisal costs if the final appraised value is greater than the insurer’s last offer."

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.

Response from the owner: Thank you so much Travis, for your kind words and for taking the time to share your positive experience. I am delighted that we could secure over $4,000 more than the initial offer from the insurance company for your claim. Your recommendation means a lot to me.Achieving such a significant increase in the Market Value payout underscores the importance of a thorough and expert appraisal process. As a licensed auto appraiser specializing in Total Loss Appraisal and Car Appraisal, I am dedicated to providing accurate and fair valuations for all my clients. It's all too common for initial offers from insurance companies to be low, often based on incomplete or incorrect data from CCC ONE valuations or JD Powers Valuations.By carefully analyzing the market and ensuring that all factors are considered, I strive to dispute total loss insurance claims effectively and secure the settlements my clients deserve. Your case is a perfect example of why it's crucial to have a quality appraiser on your side.Thank you again for your trust and for recognizing my expertise and efforts. Should you or anyone you know need assistance with a total loss dispute or any other car appraisal needs, please do not hesitate to reach out. I remain committed to providing exceptional service and support to all my clients.Best regards,Ken NixLeverage Auto Appraisals

Connor

Great working with Ken! Very professional and knowledgeable. Did an excellent job explaining the whole process. Can’t recommend him enough.

Response from the owner: Thanks for giving me the idea to put together a video to explain the process better to clients. And, thank you again for choosing me as your auto appraiser! - Ken

Andrew M

Reached out because my insurance provided me low offer on a total loss and I was not willing to settle. Everyone kept telling me to research and request a new offer based on all of the information I gathered. It makes no sense to do all this work when leverage Auto appraisals can do all of that work and has an established working relationship with insurance companies where he knows what information to provide to get the end result his clients are looking for. After it was all said and done they were able to get an offer within a very close amount of what I was looking for. I hope I never have to use their service again but if I will I certainly will come back to this company. Thank you again for your guidance and your hard work. Now if only I can find my wife another car like the one she lost.

Kepha Jones

Couldn't recommend Ken, or his company more highly! He's knowledgable, experienced, and passionate about what he does. He got me $11k more than the insurance company offered me. Trust this man and his process. It works!

Response from the owner: Thank you Kepha for the great review! I would like to address one thing I'm seeing from some other company reviews about how their appraiser picks up on the first ring. The majority of my calls go to my live answering service. I don't just sit around all day focusing on selling appraisals. I'm normally working on negotiating claims or conducting research to discredit the opposing appraiser's comps. Not, sitting around focusing on selling appraisals. I've had a lot of people ask why I put so much time and energy into fighting for my clients, and it's simple. I get to be "BATMAN". Protecting people from being taken advantage of. Shame on the insurance companies for using database valuations that are mostly crap in my personal opinion. Using comps with structural damage, branded titles or just claiming they're in "Excellent" shape and the insured's vehicle is AVERAGE "Private Party" at best then taking as much as an additional $2,000 off for condition, against vehicles that have as many as 50,000 more miles???? Of course, the comps are from a database, and have been sold and scrubbed from the internet. So you can't see that $2,000 current damage or the bad paint or improper repair from a collision. Not to mention giving the Lion's share of business to large appraisal companies that then have Hope for gain (getting more business) or fear of loss (losing a million dollar contract). It should be where insurance companies would have to hire a "true" independent auto appraiser. Where all available auto appraisers were put on a list and then selected in sequence instead of giving one company a large amount of business. Just my 2 cents. Thanks again Kepha!-Ken

Yosef Damena

I had an excellent experience with Leverage Auto Appraisals! Ken Nix and the team was professional, efficient, and incredibly knowledgeable. They provided a detailed, accurate appraisal of my vehicle and made the entire process seamless. The communication was clear, and they really took the time to explain everything to me. I highly recommend their services if you’re looking for reliable and trustworthy auto appraisal experts!

Response from the owner: Thank you so much for your kind words and for trusting Leverage Auto Appraisals! I’m thrilled to hear that you had such a positive experience. We take pride in providing detailed, accurate appraisals and ensuring our clients fully understand the process. Clear communication is a priority because insurance claims can be confusing, and too many companies take advantage of that lack of knowledge. I’m glad we could make the process seamless for you. If you ever need assistance in the future, whether it’s another appraisal or just advice on dealing with insurance claims, don’t hesitate to reach out. Your recommendation means a lot, and I truly appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. Thanks again! —Ken

Angel Song

Ken is the absolute best. He’s nice to work with and works hard to get you a better payout. These insurance companies are swindlers and he evens the playing field. My car was stolen but he accepted affirm so I was able to pay his fee in installments. Totally worth it because he got me double what the insurance company was offering for my stolen vehicle! Now they also have to reimburse me for the money I spent on Ken’s services as well.If you are wondering if it’ll be worth it, give him a call and he’ll look over your case and tell you if he thinks he can get you more.

Response from the owner: Don't know if I am the best, but I do my best to work for my clients. Thank you for taking the time to write a review Angel, and for choosing me as your auto appraiser. - 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?

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