Washington 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 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:

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.

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?

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.
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.
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 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.

Excellent

Leverage Auto Appraisals |Total Loss Appraiser4.9

Based on 180 reviews

Mehdi Farjami

Ken is truly a man on Integrity. He gave me the best advice that actually helped me use as leverage to save my Car from being Totaled. I highly recommend them. Thank you Ken!

Response from the owner:Mehdi, thank you so much for the kind words, I really appreciate you taking the time to write this. It was great working with you, and I am really glad I was able to help you navigate that situation and ultimately keep your vehicle from being totaled. Not every case needs to go all the way through the appraisal clause process. Sometimes just knowing how these insurance companies operate and using the right information at the right time can make all the difference. I am glad you were able to use that leverage and get a better outcome. Thank you again for your trust and your recommendation. It truly means a lot, and I am always here if you ever need anything in the future. Kind regards, Ken

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

dbowl36yahoo

Ken did very good job negotiating a settlement. It was a great experience and I got what I thought I deserved. Thanks again Ken!

Response from the owner:Thank you so much for the great review, I truly appreciate it. I am really glad we were able to get you to a settlement that felt right, that is always the goal. And I especially want to thank you for providing the photos of that red Ram truck. That means more than most people realize. Those diesel trucks in particular are getting lowballed so badly right now, it is honestly insane. Seeing the actual vehicle helps tell the real story and shows just how far off some of these insurance valuations can be. It also really helps other people see that these are real claims with real results, not something made up or bought somewhere online. I truly appreciate you taking the extra time to do that. You have no idea how much that helps. Thank you again for your trust, I really appreciate you. Kind regards, Ken

Jordan Schreiber, L.Ac.

I had just bought a beautiful 2015 BMW X5 35d a month prior to hitting a deer and having Progressive call it a total loss. I knew the offer from Progressive was not going to allow me to replace the l X5 that I was just getting to know when, after some searching online, found Ken. I filled out the form on his website and heard back from him the next day saying he'd take my case on and that he could help. The entire process took about a month total, from hiring Ken to finally getting my payout. At times, it took a few days for Ken to get back to me and time for insurance to respond. It was stressful, but made much easier by Ken's re-assuring and calm easy going demeanor. As soon as Progressive, got Ken's letter of arbitration, they offered me over $4000 more, the next morning! Partly this was because Progressive was trying to get out of arbitration and didn't want to reimburse Ken's fee to me, but they eventually did. While it didn't happen overnight, it was the holidays, Ken made the whole process much easier and I would hire him again if I ever needed to and have recommended him already. I think it was about $4300 total more that Ken helped negotiate! Thank you Ken

Response from the owner:I really appreciate you sharing this, thank you. And yes, that was a sharp BMW, definitely a tough one to see go so soon after you picked it up. Unfortunately, that is when a lot of people first realize how far off insurance valuations can be. You did exactly the right thing by questioning the offer and reaching out. As a licensed auto appraiser here in Oregon, I see it all the time where vehicles like yours are undervalued through automated reports. I am glad we were able to step in, invoke the appraisal clause, and ultimately help you secure about $4300 more on your total loss settlement. That is money that makes a real difference when trying to replace a vehicle like that. I know the process can feel stressful at times, especially with a little waiting involved, but I am glad I was able to help make it more manageable along the way. Thank you again for your trust, your patience, and for recommending me to others. That means everything. Kind regards, Ken

Constance Corrick

I meant to do this a couple months ago, but if you ever are looking to invoke the appraisal clause with your insurance definitely get ahold of Ken!! He got me close to $4K more than what insurance was wanting me to accept. I will say be patient (I was not good at this), communication can be sparse, but he is very busy and has reasons. Thank you Ken!!

Response from the owner:Thank you so much for taking the time to come back and write this review, I really appreciate it. It was truly awesome working with you, even if the patience part was a little tough at times. Totally understandable, these total loss situations can be stressful and nobody likes waiting when they are dealing with an insurance claim. I am really glad we were able to help you through the appraisal clause process and secure nearly $4,000 more than the original offer. That is exactly why having an independent auto appraiser in Oregon can make such a big difference when dealing with a total loss valuation dispute. Insurance companies do not always reflect the true market value, and I am happy we were able to challenge that and get you a better outcome. Thank you again for your trust, your patience, and your kind words. It really means a lot, and I am always here if you ever need help again. Kind regards, Ken

James McNames

Great experience. They were able to negotiate a value that was approximately 50% higher than what the insurance company initially offered. Would use them again, and I strongly recommend them.

Response from the owner:James, thank you so much for the great review and recommendation. I really appreciate you trusting me with your total loss claim. I am glad we were able to increase your settlement by approximately 50 percent over the original offer from your insurance company. Claims like yours are a good reminder that the first offer is not always the final offer. My job is to research the market, build a credible appraisal, and then stand behind that value during negotiations. It is always rewarding when that work results in a settlement that is much closer to what the vehicle is actually worth. Thank you again for your recommendation. It was a pleasure working with you, and I hope you never need my services again. But if you ever do, or if you know someone dealing with a total loss, I will be happy to help. Kind regards, Ken

Dominique Demouchet

I went through a pretty traumatic accident and total loss of my 2 week old car. While insurance was extremely difficult, Ken helped make the process as smooth as possible and was able to get over $2k more than i would have gotten otherwise, plus the refund of my appraisal fee since he increased the value. I can’t recommend him enough to get through these situations.

Response from the owner:Thank you so much for sharing this, and I am truly sorry you had to go through such a traumatic accident, especially with a car that was only two weeks old. That is a tough situation on so many levels, and I am really glad I could help take some of that weight off your shoulders during the process. Insurance claims can be incredibly frustrating, especially when you are already dealing with the stress of a total loss. I am happy we were able to push back through the appraisal clause process and secure that additional $2000 plus for you. Getting the appraisal fee reimbursed as well is exactly how it should work here in Oregon, and I am glad everything came together in your favor. I truly appreciate your trust and your recommendation. It means a lot to me to be able to help people navigate these situations and come out with a fair result. Kind regards, Ken

Danielle Andrade

I sadly totaled my 2017 4Runner recently. I’m so glad I called Ken at leverage auto. He was able to get me $2k more than progressive was going to pay out. It’s a good thing he’s doing! 2k definitely made a difference to me! Thank you Ken!

Response from the owner:Danielle, thank you so much for the wonderful review. I am really glad we were able to increase Progressive's settlement on your 2017 Toyota 4Runner by $2,000. I'm glad that extra money made a difference. I also appreciate your comment that this is "a good thing." That truly means a lot to me because helping people through total loss claims is exactly why I do this and the reason I don't work for insurance companies. I've instilled these same values in my kids, Nico Nix at Total Loss Northwest, Austin Nix at Diminished Value of Oregon and our newest appraiser, Savannah Long, my daughter who will be working with me again! YAY! Most people only go through this process once or twice in their lives, while insurance companies handle these claims every day. Having someone in your corner who understands the process can make all the difference. Thank you again for your trust and your recommendation. It was a pleasure working with you, and I wish you nothing but the best moving forward. Kind regards, Ken

Shawn Penny

I highly recommend Ken with Leverage Auto Appraisals. They were instrumental in my total loss claim process. The insurance company initially offered me $16,500 for my vehicle, but thanks to Leverage’s professional appraisal, I was able to secure a settlement of $19,950. Their service was professional, effective, and well worth it."

Response from the owner:Shawn, thank you so much for the great review and for trusting me with your total loss claim. I am glad we were able to increase your settlement to $19,950. Claims like yours are a good reminder that the first offer from an insurance company is not always the fair market value of a vehicle. My goal is never to create the highest appraisal possible. It is to produce the most accurate appraisal possible and then defend that value during negotiations. That approach helped us reach a settlement that was much closer to what your vehicle was actually worth. I truly appreciate your recommendation and the opportunity to help. Hopefully you never need an independent appraiser again, but if you do, I will be here. I wish you all the best, and thank you again for choosing Leverage Auto Appraisals. Kind regards, Ken

Montana Moore

I rolled my truck in Canada while guiding and my insurance offered me 3500 less than my pay off quote and Ken was able to get them to come up 8000 dollars. I will never use anyone else of if I had to do this process again. Highly highly recommend

Response from the owner:Montana, thank you so much for the awesome review, I truly appreciate it. And more than anything, thank you for putting your trust in me. I know this one was not the easiest process and it took a little time, but getting that full $8,000 increase is exactly why we stayed the course. We probably could have wrapped things up quicker if we had only pushed for a few hundred dollars more, but that is not how I operate. If I believe there is more value there, I am going to fight for it. I am really glad we did, because that is a huge difference when it comes to getting you back to where you should be. Also, thank you for posting the photos. I mean… wow. Seeing that again, it just hits you. That was a serious accident, and the fact that you walked away from that is nothing short of amazing. The good lord was definitely looking out for you that day. I really appreciate your confidence in me and your recommendation. Hopefully you never have to go through this again, but if you do, I have got your back. Kind regards, Ken

K W

I had a somewhat rare version of a vehicle that was stolen. Insurance decided to compare it to a much more common and cheaper version and refused to budge. Luckily I found Leverage. Not only did Leverage get my insurance to compare to a like version, which almost doubled what I received, but they got me almost 50% more than the revised value. If your insurance is being stubborn with you talk to Leverage.

Response from the owner:Thank you so much for the great review and for trusting me with your claim. Cases involving rare or uncommon vehicles, especially trucks, can be some of the most challenging because insurance companies often try to compare them to more common, lower value models that simply are not the same. Condition and History are very important when it comes to rare or collectible vehicles. It can make the difference of that vehicle being a collectible, or just a generic car or truck. I was really happy we were able to get the valuation based on the correct version of your truck first, and then continue negotiating to increase the settlement even further. That is exactly why I never take the path of least resistance. If I believe the evidence supports a higher value, I'm going to do everything in my power to get that amount. Every vehicle deserves to be compared to what it actually is, not to a less valuable version that happens to be easier to find. Thank you again for your recommendation. Reviews like yours help others realize they do not have to accept an unfair valuation just because the insurance company says it is correct. It was a pleasure working with you, and I truly appreciate the opportunity to help. Kind regards, Ken

K.R.

I had a very positive experience with Leverage Auto Appraisals. Ken helped me dispute a total loss claim on my vehicle and I ended up getting a higher payout from my insurance company. The process was smooth, professional, and stress-free from start to finish. He was very responsive, explained everything clearly, and truly went above and beyond to make sure I was treated fairly. I would absolutely recommend Leverage Auto Appraisals to anyone dealing with a total loss or insurance dispute!

Response from the owner:Thank you so much for the kind words, I truly appreciate you taking the time to write this. It was awesome working with you, and I am really glad I could help make the process feel smooth and a little less stressful. That is always my goal, to take something that is usually frustrating and confusing and make it as straightforward as possible while making sure you are treated fairly. These total loss situations can be overwhelming, especially when the insurance company is not coming in where they should, so I am glad we were able to get you a better outcome. Thank you again for your trust and your recommendation. It really means a lot, and I am always here if you ever need help in the future. 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?

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, Washington and Idaho while employed with Reynolds and Reynolds.

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

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