Auto Appraiser

We Specialize in Automotive Insurance Total Loss Appraisals and Negotiation.

 

Is your insurance company Offering an unfair offer that is less than what your totaled vehicle is worth?

We can help! You need a professional on your side that doesn’t work for the insurance companies. You deserve a fair settlement and hiring a Total Loss Auto Appraiser who specializes in Oregon total loss claims is your first step to receiving a Fair Total Loss Settlement.

We Don’t take a percentage and Oregon law guarantees you 100% Reimbursement for the appraisal if we increase the value over their last offer by just 1 cent.

Oregon Certified Vehicle Appraiser #V34-075 • We provide car appraisals for Totaled vehicle Insurance claims, Total Loss Appraisal Clause Disputes, Total Loss Appraisals and negotiation for stolen totaled Trucks and Cars, and other totaled vehicle appraisals.

Recently, many CCC ONE, Mitchell and JD Powers valuations have been coming in as little as 30 percent of the true market value for many Diesel Trucks with the 7.3, Duramax or Cummins engines. That’s what the appraisal clause in your policy is for. It allows you to  dispute their lowball valuations.

Call us now for a free Claim Review: 503.420.3001

What is an Appraisal Clause?

An appraisal clause is a contractual process in your auto insurance policy used to settle disputes between insurers and their policyholders when the parties fail to agree on the amount that will be covered by the policy.

If your insurer refuses to provide a fair settlement amount on your vehicle’s loss, you have the option to resolve the issue by going through your insurance policy’s appraisal clause. This prevents insurance companies from taking advantage of you.

If you do not agree on the amount of the loss, you may demand (invoke) an appraisal. In this scenario, each party will choose an independent  auto appraiser. In many cases, even their auto appraiser will be higher than the last offer your insurance company made to you. The appraisers will negotiate the value and come to an agreement, or have an umpire make a decision between the two appraisals.  I’ve been doing this for over 13 years, and have only had 5 times where we had to go to an Umpire. .

The key to a successful appraisal clause dispute is finding an expert who has the necessary vehicle knowledge and negotiation skills to handle the various aspects of the process. This includes choosing an umpire and negotiating with the other parties involved. Our Oregon Licensed Auto Appraiser, Ken Nix, has been negotiating Oregon Total Loss disputes for over 13 years in Oregon. He’s local, only works for consumers, and isn’t indebted to the insurance companies like many appraisers who rely on them for income.

A few recent Settlements:

  • Springfield, Oregon.Increase: $17,75752% increase – State Farm – Michael L.  – 2015 Lance Toy Hauler
  • Portland, OregonIncrease: $4,396 70% Increase – Progressive – M. Connly,  Portland, OR. 2001 Toyota Sequoia SR5
  • Elmira, OregonIncrease: $2,324.0017% Increase – Progressive – Nick A. 1999 Ford F-350
  • St. Helens, OregonIncrease: $2,360.0028% increase – Travelers – 2011 Toyota RAV4
  • Goldendale, WashingtonIncrease: $2,399.716% increase – State Farm – T. Casey  2016 RAM 2500 Laramie Longhorn
  • Estacada, OregonIncrease: $5,177.02 118% Increase – Progressive – T. Harrington  2002 Subaru WRX
  • Hillsboro, OregonIncrease: $6,590.00 –  34% Increase – USAA – R. McCarthy – 2008 Dodge Ram 3500 Diesel
  • Portland, OregonIncrease: $10,426.00 –  329% Increase – State Farm – R. Estrada – 1990 Harley Davideson FLHS Electic Glide
  • Hillsboro, OregonIncrease: $6,590.00 –  34% Increase – USAA – R. McCarthy – 2008 Dodge Ram 3500 Diesel

Watch our Videos to better understand the Appraisal Clause Process

What Clients Are Saying About Leverage Auto Appraisals

Leverage Auto Appraisals |Total Loss Appraiser
Excellent
4.9
Based on 107 reviews
Ken at Leverage did an outstanding job for us, the insurance company was trying to low ball the value of my daughter's Sienna van that was totaled by someone running a stop sign. Insurance comany's offer was ridiculous. I tried fighting them myself and got nowhere, they just shut me down. But Ken stepped in and got us almost 40% more, and the insurance had to reimburse me for his cost. Ken is a very pleasant guy, extremely knowledgable about his business, and great to work with. He definitely goes to bat for his customer, and he does not take a percentage of the settlement like most the other appraisers do. Highly recommend him. And he's a fun and interesting guy to talk to!
I highly recommend this service. I was able to secure a settlement over 50% higher than what was offered by my insurance company. Ken really came through for me.
I was very hesitant to pay for an independent valuation; however, after working with Ken, I am almost too overwhelmed with gratitude to find words for this review. In the end, he surprised us by getting us over $4,000 more on this claim. This was far more than I could have ever hoped for. The only minor frustration for us was trying to reach Ken which was sometimes a struggle, but I must stress he is a one man band and he gives his all for every client. If you need an update, be polite and be persistent. Trust me, he is fighting for you and he usually wins!
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!!
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.
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.
Ken at Leverage Auto Appraisal was fantastic! State Farm’s initial offer for my totaled car was much lower, but Ken stepped in and got me an additional $2,400 for my 2006 Lexus is350. I would’ve loved to get even more, but that’s no fault of Ken’s—he truly went above and beyond. He was professional, knowledgeable, and made the process easy and stress-free. His stories made the experience enjoyable, too! If you’re dealing with a total loss, don’t settle—reach out to Ken and his team. His fee is reimbursed by the insurance company, so it’s a win-win, and he does all the heavy lifting. Highly recommend!
Response from the owner: Thank you for the kind words Mario. It was a pleasure speaking with you. I hope I didn't bore you too much. I try to provide a very transparent conversation so everyone is on the same page. Thank you again for choosing me as your auto appraiser. - Ken
Went out of his way to help me and give me knowledge about some Oregon Laws that I was able to help.use againt my Claim Very Thankful for someone who's isn't all about the money!!!
Response from the owner: Thank you for the kind words Skyler. I actually started advocating for consumers back in 2005 when I realized I was justifying everything I did, no matter how bad it was. I didn't want my kids to grow up like that person, so I started helping people on forums first, then started my own forums where I helped people for free. In 2010, I moved to doing this professionally. I'm by no means rich, with the exception of my family and friends, which I could be compared to Elon there. LOL But, I make a nice living and it's a huge bonus to be able to help people along the way, even if I don't get paid. My son sent me a meme today, that was about how all the material things we cherish will either be trash or belong to someone else in 100 years. Family, Friends, Relationships and being your best should be on everyone's top priority. I'm a true believer in Karma, you reap what you sow. 'nuff said. - ('Nuff Said credit to Stan Lee who believed in fighting for the underdog.)
Ken is the absolute best. He’s nice to work with and works hard to get you a better payout. These insurance companies are swindlers and he evens the playing field. My car was stolen but he accepted affirm so I was able to pay his fee in installments. Totally worth it because he got me double what the insurance company was offering for my stolen vehicle! Now they also have to reimburse me for the money I spent on Ken’s services as well.If you are wondering if it’ll be worth it, give him a call and he’ll look over your case and tell you if he thinks he can get you more.
Response from the owner: Don't know if I am the best, but I do my best to work for my clients. Thank you for taking the time to write a review Angel, and for choosing me as your auto appraiser. - Ken
Great working with Ken! Very professional and knowledgeable. Did an excellent job explaining the whole process. Can’t recommend him enough.
Response from the owner: Thanks for giving me the idea to put together a video to explain the process better to clients. And, thank you again for choosing me as your auto appraiser! - Ken
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WHY CALL THE BUSINESS LEVERAGE AUTO APPRAISALS?

Our name sorta pays homage to a TV series that ran from 2008 to 2012. It was about a group of unsavory characters that banded together to form a team to help the underdogs. Their tagline was “The rich and powerful take what they want, we steal it back for you. Of course, we don’t steal anything. We do negotiate for average people against companies that are worth up to 700 BIllion Dollars. We feel the little guy should be represented by a well rounded appraiser. The show was actually filmed here in Portland, Oregon. Although, for the first 4 seasons, it was fictionally based in Boston. The “crew” was composed of a Mastermind, Hacker, Thief, Grifter, and Hitter”. Although I’m not a team, I do bring some diverse traits to the table. To get a little taste of the Leverage TV Show, here’s a link to a the Leverage Intro on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsHQjVMtjrA

YOu can also catch both the old Leverage TV series on Prime TV or the new Leverage Redemption series also on Prime TV.

WHO IS KEN NIX

Picture of Ken Nix, who is an Oregon Certified and Licensed Vehicle Appraiser who specializes in Oregon Total Loss Vehicle Disputes.

  • Ken Nix is a local Oregon Certified and Licensed Vehicle appraiser who has been authorized by ODOT to appraise vehicles in Oregon for over 14 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 for years with local Automotive Dealers 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 knows he market, and how to discredit your insurance company’s comparable vehicles by identifying bad repairs, title issues, previous damage, bad paint, rust from being from a salt state, and more.
  • Ken has the tools available to see previous vehicle listings, prior damage, and market flucuations that would not be economically cost effective for a single claimant to use.

 

 

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.

 

How To Video on The Appraisal Clause

Recent Total Loss Claims

Dodge Ram Totaled Total Loss appraisal for insurance dispute with Progressive Insurance company

2005 Dodge Ram 3500 SLT

Settlement Increase: $5,750.00

Details
  • Total Loss Dispute Appraisal and negotiation.

  • Insurance Offer: $18,750.00

  • Settlement: $24,500.00

  • Increase of: $5,750.00

Dodge Ram Totaled Total Loss appraisal for insurance dispute with Progressive Insurance company

2020 Ford F-550

Settlement Increase: $14,405.00

Details
  • Total Loss Dispute Truck Appraisal Clause Negotiation.
  • Insurance Offer: $10,954.00
  • Settlement: $15,700.00
  • Increase of: $4,746.00
Geico Total Loss Dispute insurance fair market value appraisal settlement

2017 Nissan Sentra "Stolen Vehicle"

Settlement Increase: $4,746.00

Details
  • Total Loss Dispute Appraisal and negotiation.

  • Insurance Offer: $18,750.00

  • Settlement: $24,500.00

  • Increase of: $5,750.00

ccc one national general appraisal dispute clause total loss

2019 Ford Ranger Lariat SuperCrew

Settlement Increase: $2,573.00

Details
  • Insurance company: National General Insurance
  • Initial Valuation: CCC One Market Valuation Report
  • Total Loss Dispute Appraisal and negotiation.
  • Insurance Offer: $40,427.00
  • Settlement: $43,0500.00
  • Increase of: $2,573.00
farmers insurance total loss dispute 2015 mitsubishi lancer evo ccc one evaluation

Mitsubishi EVO

Settlement Increase: $9,417.00

Details
  • Farmers Insurance Total Loss Appraisal clause dispute
  • CCC One Valuation
  • Total Loss Dispute Appraisal and negotiation.
  • Insurance Offer: $18,833.00
  • Settlement: $28,250.00
  • Increase of: $9,417.00
Geico Total Loss Dispute insurance fair market value appraisal settlement

2020 GMC Yukon SLT 4WD

Settlement Increase: $10,286.00

Details
  • Progressive Insurance Total Loss Dispute
  • Mitchel / J.D. Powers Valuation
  • Total Loss Dispute Appraisal and negotiation.
  • Insurance Offer: $50,214.00
  • Settlement: $60,500.00
  • Increase of: $10,286.00

LEVERAGE

Auto Appraisals

(503) 420-3001

Location

Portland, OR. 97225

Email

leveragepdx@gmail.com

Open Hours

Mon:10am – 5pm
Tue: 10am – 5pm
Wed: 10am – 5pm
Thur: 10am – 5pm
Fri: 10am – 5pm
Sat: 10am – 5pm
Sun: Closed