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 135 reviews

Kim Beason

Ken was wonderful to work with and to have on my side. The insurance company was trying to lowball our totaled vehicle and after reaching out to him he did all the work and got us a substantial amount above what insurance was " willing to pay". He is also a wealth of knowledge and very passionate about his customers.

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.

Jeremy Bittermann

I was recently involved in an accident which totaled my beloved 100 Series Land Cruiser. I consider myself to be a pretty good negotiator and figured I would be able to get a decent settlement from my insurance company.

I was WRONG. It was a gigantic, time-wasting headache. After spending a bunch of time gathering and submitting documentation to prove that their settlement offer was absurdly low they agreed and increased their offer by $500 - ridiculous.

At this point I engaged Ken to help. He was a steady hand through the entire process and provided a real education on how this whole dumb system works. In the end he was able to get the offer increased by over $8k (!) which made the final settlement much closer to what the value of the car was.

If you find yourself in a similar situation I suggest not wasting your time trying to do it yourself. Just hire Ken. He'll do a great job, take all the guess-work out of it and will almost definitely get you more money.

Also, if he gets the insurance company to increase their offer by any amount then they are obligated to reimburse you for Ken's fee!

Thanks Ken!

Nathan Salyers

Ken was fantastic! He got us $6120 more than we were originally offered! I wouldn't hesitate to refer him to anybody in need of his service!

Response from the owner:Nathan, you rock. I’m grateful for the kind words and even more grateful for those 7 amazing truck photos you added to your review. Most people don’t think to do that, but it really helps others see the quality of vehicles we’re fighting to get properly valued. Your truck deserved that $6,120 boost and then some! Thank you again for your trust, your review, and your willingness to refer others my way. That kind of support helps keep the playing field a little more level when insurance companies try to shortchange people. I'm always happy to step in and make things right. Kind regards, 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

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!

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

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!

Michael Fletcher

Ken did with the insurance company, what we could not do, and that was get a "fair" (maybe not what we hoped for, but fair) value for very low mileage 2013 VW Golf, during a ridiculously busy time
with appraisers due to the recent on-slot of hurricane-damaged cars. He was patient in explaining the process and helpful in coming to a resolution with the insurance company.

Laura Stiffler

Ken was amazing from start to finish. Communicative, helpful...like we had a friend in our back pocket working for us. Going through an insurance claim is never easy, but Ken always made us feel like we would be OK, even when the insurance guys seemed to want to take advantage. When all was said and done, he got us an ADDITIONAL $50K in total value, which was HUGE for us! Would highly recommend.

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

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.

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