Washington Total Loss Appraisal Clause Disputes

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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 Washington 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 Washington, to challenge what might seem like a lowball valuation from your insurer. If your insurance policy includes an appraisal provision, it typically follows these steps:

  1. Obtain an auto appraisal (at your expense).
  2. Your insurance company conducts its own appraisal (at its expense).
  3. Should there be a disagreement on the vehicle’s value, both appraisers select an umpire. The costs for the umpire are split equally between you and the insurance company.

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 Washington 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.

Washington

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

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

We Can Help! We specialize in Washington 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 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.

Washington
Excellent
Leverage Auto Appraisals |Total Loss Appraiser4.9
Based on 189 reviews
Washington
Ray
To start off I live in California and thats where my claim happened, I called multiple appraisers and got quotes. Ken set the expectations and was able to exceed them. After everything ken was able to get me more money then what my insurance company was offering me. Even though Ken is based in Oregon if you live in a different state do not hesitate to use his services.
Washington
Troy
I was rear-ended and my insurance offered me $19,489 for my 2021 Toyota Camry. Ken got me $22,005.50 which is an increase of $2,516.50! I would absolutely use Ken in the future and strongly recommend him.
Response from the owner:Troy, thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review and for trusting me with your total loss claim. I am glad we were able to increase State Farm's offer on your 2021 Toyota Camry from $19,489 to $22,005.50, putting an additional $2,516.50 in your pocket. I truly appreciate your recommendation. While this increase may not have been as dramatic as some of my other claims, every case is different, and my goal is always the same. I do everything I can to prove the true market value of a vehicle rather than simply accepting the first increase the insurance company offers. Every dollar matters when it comes time to replace your vehicle. I also hope your experience reminds other Oregon drivers that they do not have to accept the first total loss offer they receive. Many people are unaware that their policy contains an appraisal clause because it is often buried in the paperwork and rarely explained. Under Oregon law, if the appraisal increases the insurance company's final offer by even one cent, they must reimburse the reasonable cost of the appraisal. That knowledge alone has helped many people recover thousands of dollars they otherwise would have left behind. Thank you again for your trust and your recommendation. Hopefully you never need my services again, but if you do, I will always be happy to help. Kind regards, Ken
Washington
Alan Cowan
I highly recommend consulting with Ken Nix before accepting any insurance offer. My vehicle was damaged by a tow truck operator and declared totaled by State Farm. They offered me a ridiculously low settlement for a vehicle that I had purchased just one month prior. After struggling with my claims specialist for several weeks, I reached out to Ken and he was able increase my settlement to $5,009 from State Farm's initial offer $2,176. Ken knows the business extremely well and will make sure you get a fair offer.
Response from the owner:Alan, thank you for the kind words and the strong recommendation. Getting a low offer after your vehicle was damaged by a tow truck operator and declared a total loss is enough to make anyone feel like they are getting steamrolled. Buying the vehicle only one month before the loss makes that original $2,176 offer from State Farm even harder to swallow. I am really glad you reached out before accepting it. Increasing the settlement to $5,009 was a strong result and well over a 50 percent increase. I do apologize that the process took longer than normal because of my own wreck, and I truly appreciate your patience while I worked through that. Helping Oregon drivers with an insurance claim car value dispute is exactly why I do this work, and I am happy we could get you a much fairer outcome. Kind regards, Ken
Washington
Krista R
Ken was amazing, friendly and honest guy. My car was totaled after some idiot in Tahoe decided to pull a U-Turn on a blind corner and I was driving around said corner. I received a fair amount from State Farm, but I didn't feel like it was quite enough for what I had. Thankfully my state farm rep mentioned I could try to get more if I contact an auto appraiser, and he was right! I contacted Ken because of his great reviews, and I was so grateful I did. The entire experience was such a smooth process AND he got me an additional $3,000! And...your insurance company refunds you the entire cost of the appraisal process with Ken. I was so grateful I reached out to him, I highly recommend him to anyone that has the unfortunate reason to need this kind of service, but Ken at Leverage Auto is the guy to help! Thanks Ken for your help!
Washington
Emily Taber
My car was parked on the street and totaled by a stolen car (neighbors caught the license plate as the thief fled, so we could report more info). Insurance lowballed me initially at around $3000, and with minimal pushing on them they raised it to about $6300 which was still demonstrably too low. So, I called in Ken. Ken was great. The auto insurance adjuster took a lot of time to communicate, but Ken had a good working relationship with them and a lot of experience. He got an extra ~$3600 from their $6300 offer!! Excellent. Got basically $10 grand which was what my Subaru impreza was worth. Just know that especially if the auto's adjuster is slow moving, updates will take a while and it's not a fast process. But, it's insurance so what do you expect? Anyway you can't go wrong with Ken: if he gets you even a penny more, the insurance company pays his fees (which not getting even a penny more is basically unheard of).
Washington
Suraj Gaurav
I would highly recommend Ken, he greatly exceeded my expectations. And made the process very smooth to deal with the insurance company. He is a rock star! My Porsche Taycan had an accident and got totalled. State Farm offered a payout amount and Ken was able to raise it by $7000. The appreciation would not have been possible without him. I would recommend him in a heartbeat!! He’s easy to work with, very communicative, professional and the best at his game!!
Photo from customer reviewPhoto from customer review
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for the awesome review, I really appreciate it. And I have to say… that Taycan was absolutely gorgeous. I have a red Maserati GranTurismo Sport myself, so I have a soft spot for beautiful cars, especially when they stand out like yours did. Seriously, stunning vehicle. I am really glad I could help make the process smooth for you and get things moving in the right direction with State Farm. A $7000 increase on a total loss claim is exactly why it is so important to challenge those initial valuations. Vehicles like yours are often undervalued, and I am happy we were able to push back and get you closer to the true market value through the appraisal clause process here in Oregon. I truly appreciate your trust, your kind words, and the recommendation. I hope you end up in another red Taycan because that would be a perfect replacement. If you ever need anything in the future, I am always here to help. Kind regards, Ken
Washington
Gwen Tomac
I highly recommend working with Ken at Leverage Auto Appraisals. We were a bit lost after we were rear-ended and our insurance company declared our vehicle totaled. The payout was much less than the vehicles value and we were overwhelmed. Ken explained OR state laws around this and what he would do on our behalf. It was not a quick process, but it was definitely worthwhile. In the end, Ken was able to get us a settlement much closer to the vehicles value. We are incredibly grateful to him and would 100% recommend him.
Response from the owner:Gwen, thank you so much for the wonderful review. I truly appreciate you and your family trusting me during such a stressful time. I am especially glad we were able to increase the value of your 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid Limited from $49,415 to $56,077, resulting in an additional $6,662 for your family. I know the appraisal clause process is not always fast, but I believe it is far better to take the time to pursue a fair settlement than to simply accept a low offer. I'm grateful we were able to get much closer to the true market value of your vehicle, and I appreciate your patience throughout the process. Also, if you have not yet received reimbursement for the full cost of the appraisal, please let me know. Under Oregon law, if the appraisal results in an increase over the insurance company's last offer, they are required to reimburse your reasonable appraisal costs. I want to make sure you receive every dollar you are entitled to. Thank you again for your recommendation and your trust. It was a pleasure working with you, and I wish you and your family all the best. Kind regards, Ken
Washington
Jacob Riopelle (Jake Riopelle)
I was working with State Farm insurance, and received an appraisal from CCC for $13,400 for my 2013 Sienna. The car only had 1 only owner before me and was declared a total loss. I gave Ken a call and he let me know that they were way under evaluating my vehicle like I suspected. He worked with my insurance and in about a week he had gotten me from that $13,400.00 up to $19,600.00. Absolutely worth every penny Ken was fantastic to work with. Definitely recommend his services to anyone who has a totaled vehicle. Per Oregon law if the appraisal that you get from Ken or any other appraisal company is a penny over what the insurance company’s first appraisal of your vehicle your insurance company is liable to pay Ken’s fee. So overall, you’re basically getting a fantastic free service and more value for your vehicle. I hope I don’t ever total another vehicle but if I do, I’m calling Ken.
Response from the owner:Jake, thank you for taking the time to write such a detailed review, I truly appreciate it. It was an absolute pleasure working with you, and I am really glad you trusted your instincts when that $13,400 valuation just didn’t sit right. Getting your settlement up to $19,600 and securing that $6,200 increase is exactly why I do what I do. I am very passionate about helping people get what they truly deserve, not some lowball number that gets pushed on them in hopes they will just accept it and move on. The reality is, these insurance valuations are often riddled with problems. The comps are not inspected, have no photos, erased from the internet, and there is little to no transparency on condition assuming their comps are in excellent condition when in fact the majority they use are in worse. This is 2026, not 1994, there is no reason they can't provide photos of their comps. I regularly find vehicles with prior frame or structural damage, poor repairs, and even branded titles being used as comparables. It is honestly unacceptable. What frustrates me the most is how many people just take that first offer. There are hundreds of thousands of people every year across this country who accept less than what their vehicle is worth simply because they do not know they have options. Some of the increases I have seen are life changing. Last year alone, I had a claim increase by around $50,000. That should not even be possible if the system was working correctly, but it happens more often than people realize. I really do believe we should expect better from both insurance companies and the systems in place that are supposed to oversee them. Until that changes, I will keep doing everything I can to stand up for people and make sure they are treated fairly. Thank you again for your trust, your patience, and your recommendation. Hopefully you never need me again, but if you do, I have got your back. Kind regards, Ken
Washington
Nick Rucker
Ken nix and his team helped me out tremendously with my 2007 Subaru. Limited edition STI and my total loss claim. He was able to appraise over $5000 above what state farm had originally submitted. I'm so grateful and thankful for Ken Nix and his team and his services. Excellent job and excellent service. I will definitely suggest and recommend using them for any total loss claim.
Response from the owner:Nick, thank you so much for the awesome review and for trusting me with your 2007 Subaru WRX STI Limited. I am really glad we were able to increase the value by **more than $5,000** over the original offer. Vehicles like yours deserve someone who understands what makes them special, and I appreciate you giving me the opportunity to fight for its true market value. While I am happy with the appraisal result, I also know our work is not completely finished. I have always believed that just because the appraisal is over does not mean I stop helping my clients. Whenever I think there is something more that can be done, I will continue to point people in the right direction, help research information, and do whatever I reasonably can to help them move forward. I cannot provide legal advice, but I will always do my best to help you understand the process and the options available to you. Thank you again for your recommendation and your trust. Clients like you are the reason I enjoy what I do. Hopefully you never need me again, but if you ever have questions down the road, do not hesitate to give me a call. And even though I have no ablity to negotiate the salvage, I'll continue to be here for you until we get the issue resolved. Kind regards, Ken
Washington
Josh Liang
Ken did an excellent job negotiating a better price for my vehicle. The lowball offer the insurance company tried to give me intially was insulting. It was several thousand below what Ken was able to evaluate the vehicle at. If you want someone who will fight for a fair settlement, Ken Nix is your man.
Response from the owner:Josh, thank you for the awesome review. I really appreciate you trusting me with your 2024 Subaru Outback claim. I am glad we were able to increase the settlement from $29,572 to $34,000, putting another $4,428 in your pocket. This was one of the tougher negotiations because the opposing appraisal company was not eager to move from their position. It would have been easy to accept a smaller increase and move on, but I truly believed your vehicle was worth more. Sometimes it just takes persistence and a willingness to keep fighting until the evidence speaks for itself. Thank you again for your recommendation. Reviews like yours help other people realize they do not have to simply accept a lowball total loss offer. Hopefully you never need me again, but if you do, I will be here to help. Kind regards, Ken
Washington
shanta ramachandran
I wish I had called Ken immediately after my accident instead of trying to deal with the insurance claim myself. Ken was able to get us more than $2,000 more than insurance was initially offering. When I first called, Ken spent a lot of time answering all my questions and he was so kind and friendly. I will say, I got a little impatient at one point because I didn't hear from him for a while and was just concerned that I had been scammed. But, be patient. Ken doesn't represent insurance companies so he is busy supporting us consumers. Ken's results are worth the wait. I will be sending all my friends and family his way. Thanks again Ken!
Washington
Troy Violette
I can’t say enough good things about Leverage Auto and especially Ken. From start to finish, Ken was extremely communicative, professional, and genuinely friendly. He made the entire process much easier and less stressful than it would have been trying to deal with the insurance company on my own. Leverage Auto provided me everything needed to challenge the insurance company, and the results spoke for themselves. Their help ultimately resulted in a significantly higher payout than what the insurance company originally offered ($2k+). What stood out to me most was Ken himself. He was always responsive, easy to talk to, and genuinely seemed to care about helping me get treated fairly. You can tell he takes pride in what he does. We need more honest, hardworking people like Ken who are willing to fight for the little guy instead of just letting the big insurance companies have their way. I’m extremely grateful for the help and would absolutely recommend Leverage Auto to anyone dealing with an insurance company over the value of their vehicle. 5 stars all the way!
Response from the owner:Thank you so much, Troy. I really appreciate the kind words and especially your comments about communication and genuinely caring about the outcome. I do take a lot of pride in fighting for my clients, and I’m glad I was able to get you more than $2,000 above the insurance company’s offer. Your Volkswagen Golf TDI was an interesting one because the six speed manual transmission is actually more sought after, yet the CCC valuation relied on automatic transmission comparables. They also applied the same $1,469 condition deduction against your vehicle, even though yours was exceptional and in better condition than most of the comparable vehicles I found. Unfortunately, finding good comparables for these TDIs can be difficult because there simply are not many of them available. Sometimes I know a vehicle is worth more, but I still have to prove it with credible market evidence. Thank you again for trusting me to handle your total loss appraisal dispute and for the five stars, Troy. I’m glad I could make the process a little less stressful and help get the settlement closer to what your Golf TDI was actually worth. Kind regards, Ken

 

Oregon 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.

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

Why Hire Us?

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Licensed Auto Appraiser for over 13 Years

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Over 35 years Experience as a Professional Negotiator

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

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Over 40 years of Automotive Experience

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

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

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

Vehicles We Sevice

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

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

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

WHO IS KEN NIX

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

  • Ken Nix is a local Oregon Certified and Licensed Vehicle appraiser since April of 2010 has been authorized by ODOT to appraise vehicles in Oregon for over 12 years.
  • Ken started in the automotive industry in the 1980s and has sold and appraised tens of thousands of vehicles including late model cars and trucks, Exotics, Muscle Cars, Street Rods, Vintage, Classics, Street Rods, Camper Conversions, and even Japanese right-hand drive vans while working for multiple franchises over 20 years. Ken is the independent appraiser chosen by Ron Tonkin Gran Turismo for independent vehicle assessments.
  • Previously employed by Diversiform and Reynolds and Reynolds. Ken worked with local Automotive Dealers, Sales, Service and Body shops to market vehicles. Hundreds of Dealership owners, managers, and staff know and trust him. Ken also worked with Lanphere Enterprises, and many other local dealers to provide digital solutions for automotive marketing.
  • Ken is the founder of Volkswagen Owners Club, My GTI, and Jetta Junkie and was an Administrator for Autoguide.com for over 10 years.
  • Ken’s wife jokes that sometimes she’s married to Liam Neeson because Ken has a very particular set of skills, skills he’s acquired over a very long career.

OREGON LICENSED AUTO APPRAISER for over 13 years

 

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

  • Ken has actual long term automotive sales, appraisal and negotiation experience. Beware long term businesses with inexperienced vehicle appraisers claiming decades of experience because a relative founded the business. Make sure your automotive appraiser has the real world experience to back up their claims.
  • Ken’s background in training salespeople on Product Knowledge, combined with auto body repair assessment experience and his computer background provides negotiating leverage over opposing appraisers. The ability to spot bad repairs from prior damage on an opposing appraiser’s comparables to discrediting salt state and flood damaged vehicles used by your insurance company’s valuations from CCC One and Mitchell / J.D. Powers to lowball your vehicle.
  • Expert Negotiator. Personally trained one on one by Zig Ziglar, Tom Stuker, and Grant Cordone. Over 45 years experience as a professional negotiator.
  • Ken’s Automotive, Computer Technology, Legal Reseach, and Negotiating background provides a very specific skill set that makes him a nightmare to opposing appraisers.

 

Recent Total Loss Claim Dispute Recoveries

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

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

S. Mead – Total Loss Dispute
Insurance Company: Geico

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

S. Arkelian – Total Loss Dispute
Insurance Company: Progressive

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

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

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

C. Wilkinson – Total Loss Dispute
Insurance Company: Progressive

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

K. Johnson – Total Loss Dispute
Insurance Company: Progressive

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

LEVERAGE

Auto Appraisals

(503) 420-3001

Location

Portland, OR. 97225

Email

leveragepdx@gmail.com

Open Hours

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

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