CALL FOR A FREE TOTAL LOSS APRAISAL CLAUSE CLAIM REVIEW 503-420-3001

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LEVERAGE

AUTO APPRAISER

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: $17,757 – 52% increase – State Farm – Michael L. – 2015 Lance Toy Hauler
Portland, Oregon – Increase: $4,396 – 70% Increase – Progressive – M. Connly, Portland, OR. 2001 Toyota Sequoia SR5
Elmira, Oregon – Increase: $2,324.00 – 17% Increase – Progressive – Nick A. 1999 Ford F-350
St. Helens, Oregon – Increase: $2,360.00 – 28% increase – Travelers – 2011 Toyota RAV4
Goldendale, Washington – Increase: $2,399.71 – 6% increase – State Farm – T. Casey 2016 RAM 2500 Laramie Longhorn
Estacada, Oregon – Increase: $5,177.02 – 118% Increase – Progressive – T. Harrington 2002 Subaru WRX
Hillsboro, Oregon – Increase: $6,590.00 – 34% Increase – USAA – R. McCarthy – 2008 Dodge Ram 3500 Diesel
Portland, Oregon – Increase: $10,426.00 – 329% Increase – State Farm – R. Estrada – 1990 Harley Davideson FLHS Electic Glide
Hillsboro, Oregon – Increase: $6,590.00 – 34% Increase – USAA – R. McCarthy – 2008 Dodge Ram 3500 Diesel

Watch our Videos to better understand the Appraisal Clause Process

CALL NOW - FOR A FREE TOTAL LOSS CLAIM REVIEW 503-420-3001

What Clients Are Saying About Leverage Auto Appraisals

Excellent

Leverage Auto Appraisals |Total Loss Appraiser4.9

Based on 186 reviews

Krista R

18 hours ago

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!

Lisa Bacheller

2 days ago

On Father’s Day, I was I was rear ended, and my car was totaled. The insurance company was offering so little I could not even come close to replacing my Vehicle. Luckily, my son found Ken. Ken went into battle on my behalf and won. Thank you Ken

Response from the owner:Thank you so much, Lisa. Getting rear ended on Father’s Day and then finding out State Farm’s total loss offer would not even come close to replacing your vehicle was adding insult to injury. I’m really glad your son found me and that I could go into battle for you. Even better, I was able to secure an additional $4,060 on your total loss settlement. When I reviewed the CCC valuation, some of the adjustments simply made no sense to me. Mileage adjustments on the comparable vehicles worked out to amounts as low as one cent, four cents, and five cents per mile. Then CCC applied the same $2,182 condition deduction against your vehicle across all three comparables, even though your vehicle was in exceptional condition. This is exactly why I believe these valuations need to be carefully reviewed instead of simply accepted at face value. I’m glad I could help get your settlement closer to what your vehicle was actually worth. Thank you for trusting me to fight for you, Lisa, and please thank your son for finding me. I truly appreciate your review. Kind regards, Ken

Troy Violette

2 days ago

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

Hannah Viera

7 days ago

Ken was absolutely the right choice for this situation and if I ever get in another car accident like this, he’s getting a call much sooner in the process. Ken was knowledgeable, thorough, and proactive. I’m so thankful to him for helping me deal with a nightmare of an insurance negotiation.

Response from the owner:Thank you so much, Hannah. I really appreciate the kind words and your trust in me. I’m glad I could help take some of the stress out of what had already become a nightmare dealing with State Farm. There were definitely some things in the CCC valuation that did not make sense to me. The mileage adjustments were extremely inconsistent, with some working out to as little as one cent per mile up to five cents per mile on lower mileage vehicles, while the comparable vehicles varied by tens of thousands of miles. It seemed it always just works out to being to their advantage also. They also applied a $571 condition deduction against your Genesis when it was in exceptional condition, and then took an additional condition deduction. These blanket deductions are frustrating because they do not necessarily reflect the actual condition of the vehicles being compared, especially your car. Your Genesis was a really nice car, and I’m glad I could help challenge the valuation and get you closer to a fair settlement. Hopefully you never need me again, but if you do, I’ll be here. Thank you again, Hannah! Kind regards, Ken

Jennifer Estrada

3 weeks ago

Ken did an amazing job on getting more money from our insurance on my daughters car. I highly recommend Ken and his team.

Response from the owner:Thank you so much, Jennifer. I really appreciate the recommendation and the trust you put in me to help with your daughter’s Challenger. I’m glad I was able to challenge State Farm’s CCC valuation and get a little over $3,000 added to the settlement. It still amazes me how these CCC ONE valuations can sometimes be thousands of dollars away from what a vehicle is actually worth. I also really appreciate you including the photo of the Challenger. Photos help people reading these reviews see that these are real vehicles, real total loss claims, and real people dealing with these insurance valuation disputes. That was a really nice Challenger, and it was tough seeing it damaged like that. Thank you again for taking the time to leave the review and especially for including the photo. It means a lot to me. Kind regards, Ken

Chris LaPointe

3 weeks ago

I can't recommend Ken at Leverage Auto Appraisals highly enough. When my insurance company declared my vehicle a total loss, their initial valuation was not near to the value of my vehicle. I knew something wasn't right and reached out to Ken. From our first conversation, it was clear that he genuinely cared about helping me receive a fair settlement. He took the time to explain the appraisal process, answered all of my questions, and handled the negotiations with professionalism and confidence. His knowledge of vehicle values and the insurance claims process was impressive, and his persistence and knowledge made all the difference. Thanks to Ken's hard work and dedication, he was able to negotiate a settlement that was much closer to the true market value of my vehicle. Without his expertise, things would have resolved differently. If you're dealing with a total loss claim or feel your insurance company has undervalued your vehicle, don't hesitate to call Ken. He is honest, knowledgeable, responsive, and truly fights for his clients. I'm incredibly grateful for everything he did and would recommend Leverage Auto Appraisals to anyone looking for someone who will advocate for them every step of the way.

Response from the owner:Thank you so much, Chris. I really appreciate the thoughtful review and your trust in me. Your 2000 Honda S2000 was an exceptional car with only about 52,000 miles, and I’m glad I was able to get you over $5,000 more on your total loss settlement. There were some things in the CCC ONE valuation that simply did not make sense to me. One of their comparable vehicles had around 110,000 miles, more than double the mileage of your S2000. Then they deducted over $1,500 for condition from your vehicle, even though your S2000 was in exceptional condition. Comparing a 52,000 mile showroom quality car against vehicles with substantially higher mileage and then making that kind of condition deduction is exactly why these reports need to be carefully reviewed. I’m glad I could help get the settlement much closer to the true market value of such a special S2000. Thank you again for the recommendation and for trusting me to fight for you, Chris. Kind regards, Ken

Bernadeau Faurestal

1 month ago

I had a great experience working with Ken. The process took longer than expected, but Ken stayed on top of the negotiations and kept working my case. In the end, he was able to increase my total loss settlement by about 20%. I'm very happy with the outcome and would definitely recommend Leverage to anyone who feels their vehicle was undervalued by their insurance company. One thing I'd add is to be patient as the appraisal process isn't quick, and some delays are outside the appraiser's control. In my case, the final result made the wait worthwhile. Thanks again, Ken!

Response from the owner:Bernadeau, thank you so much for the fantastic review. I really enjoyed working with you, and I appreciate you sticking with the process. While it took longer than either of us would have liked, I'm glad we didn't settle early for just a couple thousand dollars more and instead continued pushing for what I believed your Tesla Model Y was actually worth. In the end, we were able to increase your total loss settlement by over $5,500, and I am thrilled the extra patience paid off. One thing I would like to add for anyone reading this review is that the length of an appraisal clause claim is often determined by how responsive the opposing appraiser is. Once my appraisal is complete, I cannot force someone on the other side to answer emails or return phone calls. Unfortunately, I have noticed a few companies becoming slower and slower during negotiations while also advertising in our area how quickly they complete appraisals for consumers. I also encourage everyone to do a little homework before hiring an appraiser. Ask if they are licensed to appraise vehicles in Oregon and request their Oregon appraiser license number. If that information is not readily available on their website or they are unwilling to provide it, I would encourage you to ask why. Also ask whether they or their company perform appraisal work for insurance companies or receive any revenue from insurance companies. In my opinion, an independent appraiser should be willing to answer those questions openly and honestly. I have also seen situations where policyholders received very quick settlements from companies advertising fast turnaround times, only for me to later obtain substantially higher settlements after becoming involved. In my opinion, a fast result does not always mean the best result. I would rather spend a little more time fighting for the highest credible value that is owed to a client, than settle a claim quickly for less than I believe it is worth. Thank you again for putting your trust in me. I am grateful for the opportunity to help you challenge an undervalued insurance settlement, and I wish you nothing but the best moving forward. Kind regards, Ken

Ashley Cervantes

1 month ago

Ken Nix was an absolute joy to work with and he did exactly what he said he would. He was able to get my payout increased enough to pay off my loan, buy back my car, and have some left over to repair it too! He even reassured me when insurance's third party appraiser tried to scare me into thinking I had made a big mistake. Hiring Ken was the best decision I could have made and I am 100% satisfied with the outcome. I could not recommend him more. Thank you so much Ken!

Response from the owner:Ashley, thank you so much for the wonderful review. It was truly a pleasure working with you, and I am so glad we were able to increase the value of your **2015 Honda CR-V** by more than **$2,700**, a **43.8 percent increase** over the original offer. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for insurance company representatives or the appraisers they hire to say things that make policyholders question whether they are making the right decision. I am glad I was able to answer your questions and give you the confidence to stay the course. In the end, being able to pay off your loan, buy your CR-V back, and still have money left over to repair it worked out. That is exactly why I enjoy doing this work. Thank you again for your trust and your kind words. You were an absolute pleasure to work with, and I truly appreciate your recommendation. I wish you many more miles with your CR-V, and if you ever need anything in the future, do not hesitate to reach out. Kind regards, Ken

Scott Searcy

1 month ago

Sooooo glad we discovered that we could hire our own appraiser! My son hit a deer and his SUV was soon determined a total loss. Our insurance rep lowballed us with their initial $$ offer which I tried to negotiate in vain getting nowhere for literally 4 weeks. They kept unfairly comping our 1 owner, private use vehicle against former rental cars and then discounted ours additionally by $1400 for not being in showroom condition "like their rental comps"! The more I researched their comps, the more frustrated I became... They even comped vehicles with previous accidents that sold earlier where I could not look up the Carfax history... Shame on them! Even with Carfax, I found most “1 owner vehicles” deceptive with the 1 owner being a major rental company… My rep(s) eventually referred me to their total loss adjuster and all they said repeatedly was a whole lot of NO. It was insanity, 4 weeks passed & I was left fuming getting nowhere fast on my own. I researched next options then found Leverage Auto Appraisals and Ken Nix. I was a little reluctant but made the investment to bring him on to help. He quickly jumped in our claim and took over the negotiations. Within a couple weeks he succeeded in getting us THOUSANDS $$ more than I was even expecting. The kicker was - in the end, our insurance company even had to pay Ken’s fees on top of everything! Valuable life lesson learned… If you get in a total loss situation, don’t waste your valuable time trying to negotiate with your insurance rep on your own. Hire a pro… I only wish I had discovered Ken sooner as I would not have wasted weeks on end researching fair comparable vehicles & building spreadsheets to try and sway our claim with zero luck. Ken’s a pro at this. Hire him, be patient and let him fight on equal footing with your insurance rep.

Response from the owner:Scott, thank you so much for taking the time to write such a detailed review and for sharing the photos of your son's SUV. It was a beautiful vehicle, and I completely understand why you were so frustrated after spending weeks trying to negotiate on your own. One thing your experience highlights is that negotiating a total loss claim is very different from simply finding a few comparable vehicles online. The valuation company controls the valuation process, and that can make it extremely difficult for consumers to negotiate against, when they can just change the rules since they are in charge of that valuation. Even when you find better vehicles that are closer in mileage, condition, or location, they are not always willing to use them. That is one of the reasons I have dedicated nearly my entire practice to total loss appraisal disputes. After more than 16 years specializing in these claims, I know what evidence is most likely to hold up during the appraisal clause process and where to focus my efforts. Unfortunately, it's not always as simple as producing an appraisal, I also have to discredit their comps, and build value in your vehicle. Luckily, I have over 30 years experience doing that. Thank you again for trusting me with your claim. I also appreciate you mentioning that the insurance company reimbursed the full cost of the appraisal. Most importantly, I am glad we were able to secure $3,500 more than they offered. I hope you and your son never have to go through another total loss, but if you ever have questions in the future, I am always happy to help. Kind regards, Ken

K W

1 month ago

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

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.