Portland, Oregon Total Loss Appraisal

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When your vehicle is declared a total loss by your insurance company, particularly in the wake of a car accident or a stolen vehicle incident, it can be a stressful and confusing time. This declaration typically means that the cost of repairs could equal or even exceed your vehicle’s retail market value. In such scenarios, Leverage Auto Appraisals steps in as your ally, ensuring that you receive the full retail value of your car, encompassing all applicable Tax, Title, and Licensing Fees, a right strongly upheld in Oregon.

If you find yourself with an offer from your insurance company that seems unfairly low, remember that you are not without recourse. Our professional services in Portland, set against the backdrop of iconic local landmarks like the Portland Japanese Garden and the bustling Pearl District, provide a sense of familiarity and trust for our clients.

Leverage Auto Appraisals is here to assist. We’re not affiliated with any insurance companies, meaning our sole focus is on securing a fair settlement for you. Our expertise is particularly crucial in Oregon, where law mandates 100% reimbursement for appraisal costs if we manage to increase the value over the insurance company’s last offer by even a single cent.

Our Oregon Certified Vehicle Appraiser, Ken Nix (Certification #V34-075), specializes in providing car appraisals for a range of situations including Totaled vehicle Insurance claims, Total Loss Appraisal Clause Disputes, and negotiation for stolen or totaled Trucks and Cars. We have noticed a trend with CCC ONE, Mitchell, and JD Powers valuations, particularly for Diesel Trucks with the 7.3, Duramax, or Cummins engines, coming in at values as low as 30 percent of their true market value. This is where the appraisal clause in your policy becomes crucial, allowing you to challenge these lowball valuations effectively.

Don’t let an unfair offer set you back. If you’re in Portland, Oregon, and need assistance with a total loss claim, Leverage Auto Appraisals is your first step towards a fair settlement. Contact us now for a free Claim Review at (503) 567-8900. We are here to ensure that your car value or vehicle value reflects its true worth in the market, irrespective of the situation – be it a car accident, Copart, IAAI involvements, or other circumstances leading to your vehicle being totaled.

total loss vehicles at copart in Portland, 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

Based on 142 reviews

Aaron Lilak

Ken did a great job negotiating settlement on our total loss Chevy Bolt. Before hiring Ken, Liberty Mutual offered $9500 and then I found several nearly identical cars for around $15-16k and tried to negotiate with Liberty Mutual by sending them a list of comps....this resulted in only about a $600 increase and a lot of frustration from the insurance company claims adjuster and appraiser playing good cop/bad cop with me and insurance company playing games like lowering claim amount by an EV credit I don't even qualify for. I then told insurance company that I would invoke appraisal clause in policy and hired Ken and he negotiated settlement of $15,500 (almost a $5K increase from what I managed).

There is a law in Oregon that if the appraisal increases from insurance offer by even $0.01 that insurance company must reimburse you for the appraisal, so Liberty Mutual also got stuck paying Ken for his service and my total cost for Ken's service was $0. Only downside is that the process takes a couple weeks.....that's probably part of the game where insurance company hopes you just sign whatever they put in front of you. I will recommend Ken to everyone that I know who is in a similar position in the future.

Response from the owner:Thank you, Aaron! You did all the right things—gathering comps, pushing back, and invoking the appraisal clause when Liberty Mutual started playing games. I’m really glad I could help bring your claim up from their $9,500 lowball to a proper $15,500. That $5,000 difference isn’t just numbers—it’s peace of mind and a real-world win. And you're absolutely right about Oregon law. Because the final settlement exceeded Liberty’s offer by more than a penny, they had to reimburse you for the full appraisal cost. I’ll never stop reminding folks—when done right, the appraisal clause doesn’t cost the consumer anything in the end. Thank you for putting your trust in me, and I’m grateful for your recommendation. Kind regards, Ken

Gabe Ritter

Ken is the absolute best in the business and a pleasure to work with. A true professional and knows his stuff. I highly recommend using him to get you the absolute best price for your total loss vehicle. He knows all the ins and outs of the insurance business. Do yourself a favor and hire him.

Response from the owner:Gabe, thank you so much for the generous review! You were such a pleasure to work with—truly one of the kindest folks I’ve had the chance to help. I appreciate your trust and your words more than you know. I’m glad we could put my knowledge of the appraisal clause and insurance world to good use and get you the result you deserved. It means a lot that you’d recommend me so highly. You made the process smooth and enjoyable, and I’m always here if you or anyone you know needs help down the road. Kind regards, Ken

Young

I live in Seattle and my 2014 Subaru Forester was totaled back in August. While I felt the offer from my insurance was fair for most of the car, there were a few things that I felt their offer didn’t capture (new tires). So I sat on their offer for 3 months before finding Ken Nix.

Ken has great communication considering how swamped appraisers are now. When I first spoke to him with concerns (before even hiring him), he took the time to answer all my questions in great detail. While no appraiser can guarantee how an appraisal will go, Ken assured me his services would be well worth the cost. And he was right! Less than 1 week after hiring him, I got an email from my claim agent stating they had increased my loss value by about $1800!

I’m so glad I didn’t just immediately accept my insurance’s offer, and I’m especially glad I found someone as reliable and professional as Ken!!

Justin Matthews

If you’re at all on the fence, I could not recommend more having Ken and the team at Leverage auto help you get the most out of your total loss.
Ken got me over $4,000 more out of my auto claim (140% of what my insurance offered me! Took me from 10k I was offered to 14k my car was actually worth). Plus in Oregon if your settlement increases at all, insurance has to reimburse you for all his costs. So at zero cost to me, I got a huge monetary increase.
From start to finish, Ken explained the process to me, kept me updated, pushed my insurance to move much faster than they would have otherwise, and really helped me feel like I was appropriately compensated after a hit and run.
Anyone and everyone who experiences a total loss should use his services. I will always go to him in the future if anything like this happens again, and would tell friends and family to do the same.
Thanks to everyone at Leverage, and especially Ken!

Ron Burke

After calling Ken and explaining my details he worked with my insurance assessor. After a couple weeks he was able to get me a 29% value increase over what my insurance offered me for the total loss of my car. Thank you Ken and Leverage Auto Appraisals for your work to get me what I felt my vehicle was worth.

Response from the owner:Thank you Ron, That was a nice settlement, but a hard claim. I'm really surprised they let us get that much without pushing to go to umpire earlier. Over the past couple of months, anytime we should have a large increase like this, opposing appraisers are trying to push it to Umpire. Which in my personal opinion, is a rigged system. Most of the umpires work for insurance companies. I'm seeing more and more appraisers target the Pacific Northwest from Florida, Utah, Michigan, California, and the funny thing is a lot of them are the same auto appraisers working for insurance companies and I'm negotiating against them. Thank you for selecting me as your auto appraiser Ron. So happy I could help. Thank you, Ron! That was indeed a nice settlement, though it was a very challenging claim. I’m honestly surprised the opposing appraiser didn’t push for an umpire earlier, especially with an increase this significant. Lately, whenever we’re aiming for a large increase, opposing appraisers are quick to push to go to umpire. A system that, in my personal opinion, often favors insurers, as most umpires have close ties with them. It’s also interesting to see more appraisers targeting the Pacific Northwest from places like Florida, Utah, Michigan, and California. Many of them are the same opposing appraisers I encounter working for insurance companies in other claims. I appreciate you choosing me as your auto appraiser and taking the time to write a review.

Tracker Bain

Hello everyone, hope you come out as good as we did. My daughter and I totaled out my truck, and hurt my trailer and early bronco pretty bad. Insurance took care of the bronco fair so far. But my 2005 Dodge Cummings 2500 with a six speed manual didn’t fair so well. My truck saved our lives by giving its own body in trade. I bought this truck new and it was still a well taken care of truck with a handfull of dents. Still had the original windshield in it. Well insurance didn’t see it like that. Trucks cost $70k to over $100k now a days and they think my truck was worth $12k. After arguing with a guy from State Farm about the unfair practices they use I was able to get them to finally sell me my truck back, which he said they couldn’t do. Plus give me $11k. This was still way below what these trucks sell for used. I called Ken and he said he would look into it. By the next morning he called me and said he found three trucks on the market worth around $27k. So I hired him and he started doing his thing. Now everyone wants upfront service with a smile. Ken did exactly that for us. It took 6 months to deal with State Farm at their pace. He stayed with them every step of the way. I ended up getting $22k for my truck after it was all said and done. It went from $16k to $22k. The best part is the insurance has to pay his fee for him being right on the price. This took some time so it’s not fun or easy, paying insurance on a truck that they owe you on it frustrating also. So give Ken a call and be patient. He can only work as fast as the insurance will go, which is snail speed. I don’t really know what I would have done without him, I would of ate $6k just to be done with the insurance company. I’m glad I called him, he’s always a pleasure to talk to and a super easy guy to approach. Thanks Ken!

Caleb Gilson

Ken Nix does an awesome job, great communication, great guy. He has negotiated with insurance values on two vehicles for me now. Wouldn't go to anyone else. He got me 4-5k more both times, dont let insurance lowball your cars value. Reminder: Oregon law requires insurance to reimburse your costs for an appraisal for just a penny in raised value and he will get it for you, so don't hesitate.

Howard Bergman

I was greatly impressed with Ken at his company.
He immediately explain all of details on how it works and how do you insurance company use he gives you the low number? KEN WHEN'S ABLE TO GET ME OVER $9000 MORE THAN YOU INSURANCE COMPANY OFFERED? I WOULD DEFINITELY GIVE A 5 STAR REVIEW. AND WHAT? HIGHLY RECOMMENDED HIM THANK YOU HOWARD BERGMAN.

Dave Andrews

Ken delivered as advertised and I can confidently recommend him. He was able to get us 5k over the insurance offer. I plan to use him again.

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

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

David Sudar

TLDR; Ken got us an extra 19% out of our Insurance company, and we didn't have to do anything. Easeful process. Recommended!

State Farm offered us $9,533 for our totaled car. I spent 30 minutes reading their report and then looking at various sites online for what it would cost us to buy a comparable car. It was clear their offer was majorly low balling us. From what I've since learned, they basically always low ball you.

Anyhow, I hired Ken / Leverage Auto Appraisals. We had one call, I sent him his fee, and from there I literally had to do zero work. He negotiated a settlement of $11,750, for an increase of $2,217. State Farm promptly sent us the check, as well as the reimbursement for Ken's fee.

I had some initial hesitation over having to pay his fee up front, though based on his word with how successful he is, reading over all these positive reviews, and my own sense of the initial offer being too low, I decided that the chances of getting a valuation of at least one dollar more were very, very high, which would mean they would also reimburse the fee. Glad I did it.

Thanks, Ken!

Portland Total Loss Vehicle Appraisals

At Leverage Auto Appraisals in Portland, Oregon, we understand the frustration and confusion that can arise when your insurance company undervalues your vehicle after a total loss. Situated in the heart of a city renowned for its rich culture and landmarks like the historic Portland Art Museum, our team is dedicated to ensuring that locals receive fair treatment in their auto insurance claims.

Dealing with a total loss vehicle claim can be a trying experience, especially when the settlement offer from your insurance company doesn’t reflect the true car value or vehicle value. This situation is all too common in Portland, where residents frequently face challenges in getting fair compensation for their totaled car following a car accident or incidents involving Copart or IAAI.

The Appraisal Clause – Your Path to a Fair Offer:

Challenging the Offer: If your insurance company’s valuation falls short, the appraisal clause in your policy is your tool for contesting their offer.
Conducting Independent Appraisals: As part of this process, you have the right to obtain an independent appraisal at your expense, while your insurance company does the same.
Resolving Discrepancies: In cases where these appraisals differ, an umpire is appointed to settle the value dispute, with the costs split between you and the insurer.
Oregon Law Advantage: Under Oregon law, if the final appraised value is higher than your insurer’s last offer, they are obligated to reimburse you for the appraisal costs.

At Leverage Auto Appraisals, we specialize in navigating these complex scenarios. Our team, led by our experienced auto appraiser, Ken Nix, is committed to helping Portland residents stand up to insurance companies that undervalue their vehicles. We provide a comprehensive and free evaluation of your total loss claim, empowering you to make an informed decision on whether to proceed with the dispute.

Our approach is personalized and focused. Unlike larger appraisal firms, each case at Leverage Auto Appraisals receives the detailed attention it deserves. We understand the unique aspects of Portland’s vehicle market, ensuring that your claim reflects the real market value, be it for everyday cars or more specialized vehicles seen in Copart or IAAI auctions.

For Portland residents facing total loss situations, remember that you have a right to fair treatment. Don’t settle for less than what your vehicle is worth. Contact Leverage Auto Appraisals for professional guidance and support in ensuring you receive a fair and just settlement. We stand with you, advocating for your rights, and ensuring that the value of your vehicle is recognized and compensated appropriately.

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