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

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

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 Appraiser

Based on 180 reviews

Bernadeau Faurestal

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!

Ashley Cervantes

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

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

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

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

Scot Northern

I highly recommend Ken Nix at Leverage Auto Appraisals. When my 2024 Toyota 4Runner was declared a total loss, the insurance company tried to lowball me on the value of my vehicle and aftermarket upgrades. I hired Ken, and his tenacity was exactly what I needed. He truly fights for the little guy against the corporate bureaucracy. By coordinating directly with the state regulators and insurance company appraisers, while refusing to back down, he successfully secured a $3,056 increase over the initial insurance offer. If you are dealing with a total loss and need an expert who will relentlessly advocate for what you are owed, Ken is your guy.

Response from the owner:Scot, thank you so much for the outstanding review and for trusting me with your 2024 Toyota 4Runner TRD Off Road Premium. That is one beautiful 4Runner, and I am glad we were able to secure an additional $3,056 over the original offer from Progressive. One of the biggest challenges in your claim was making sure the true value of both your vehicle and its aftermarket upgrades was recognized. Insurance companies do not always give those upgrades the consideration they deserve, so it often takes persistence, solid research, and a willingness to stand your ground. I appreciate your patience while I worked through the process because I truly believed your 4Runner was worth more than the initial offer reflected. Thank you again for your recommendation and your kind words. Helping people level the playing field during a total loss claim is exactly why I do this. I hope you never need my services again, but if you ever have questions in the future, you know how to reach me. 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

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

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

DJ FaceCrook Funches

I recently worked with Ken Mix after my 2017 Nissan Leaf was totaled in an accident that was 100% the other driver's fault. State Farm's initial settlement offer was far too low, and I was struggling to get a fair value for my vehicle. I actually used an AI tool to help me research my options, and it flagged Ken as one of the top independent appraisers in the region, noting his consistent victories in disputing lowball claims against State Farm. Ken came highly recommended, and he absolutely delivered. The story of how we started working together is pretty funny. At first, Ken honestly didn't think he could take my case. Because of the highly volatile nature of the market for older EVs—specifically the Nissan Leaf—he wasn't sure he could find the data to beat State Farm's quote. Instead of just taking my money, he generously gave me a brilliant counter-strategy: he told me to report our initial consultation directly to State Farm to show them I was speaking with an independent appraiser, predicting that just knowing I had an expert in my corner might scare them into raising the Actual Cash Value (ACV) by $1,000 on the spot. But it gets better. About a day later, Ken emailed me urgently. He had kept digging into the data on his own time, completed some deeper research, and realized he could absolutely get me a deal. He was so confident after reviewing the numbers that he told me that if I paid his fee, he could almost guarantee an appraisal that would cover the cost, making it entirely worthwhile and risk-free for me. He took the case, conducted a meticulous appraisal, and completely shattered State Farm's lowball offer—ultimately securing an additional $1,702 on top of their first valuation. His report paid for itself multiple times over, just like he said it would. Beyond being an absolute master of his craft, Ken is a fascinating person to talk to. He has an incredible background, a unique education, and a wealth of diverse life experiences that make him an absolute pleasure to work with. He genuinely cares about getting justice for his clients. If you are dealing with a total loss or a difficult insurance claim in the Seattle/Tacoma area, do yourself a favor and call Ken Mix. He is the absolute best in the business. Thank you, Ken!

Response from the owner:John, thank you so much for taking the time to write such an incredible review. I truly appreciate your trust, and I am glad we were ultimately able to increase the value of your 2017 Nissan Leaf by an additional **$1,702**. I have to admit, this claim almost never happened. When we first spoke, I honestly did not think I could build a strong enough appraisal to justify asking you to hire me. The market for older Nissan Leafs can be extremely volatile, and I never want someone to spend money on an appraisal unless I genuinely believe I can help. After our conversation, though, I just could not let it go. I kept researching on my own time and eventually found stronger comparable vehicles much closer to your area. Those local comparables completely changed my opinion of the claim, so I reached back out because I believed we finally had enough evidence to move forward. I am really glad I did. I originally thought we might be able to improve the settlement by around a thousand dollars, so I was happy we were able to exceed that and secure an additional $1,702 instead. The only part that still frustrates me is that, unlike Oregon, Washington does not require insurance companies to reimburse consumers for the reasonable cost of an appraisal when it results in a higher settlement. I have always believed that if the insurance company is proven wrong, the consumer should not have to bear the cost of proving it. In most cases I've been able to provide a strong enough argument, that insurance companies have reimbursed the appraisal fee in Washington, and I can't believe State Farm fought us on the reimbursement. Unfortunately, sometimes this happens on Washington State claims. Thank you again for your thoughtful review and recommendation. It was a pleasure working with you, and I truly enjoyed our conversations along the way. I wish you nothing but the best, and if you ever need anything in the future, you know how to reach me. 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.