Buying at auction in Japan: how to read the inspection sheet

In Japan, a large share of used cars is sold at professional auctions. Every car is inspected there by the auction house's inspector, who fills in a standard form: the auction sheet. It is the most useful document for judging a car from a distance, as long as you know how to read it.

The overall grade

At the top of the sheet is a grade summing up the car's condition:

• S or 6: new or nearly new;
• 5: exceptional condition, very low mileage;
• 4.5: excellent condition;
• 4: good condition, a few small marks of use;
• 3.5: visible marks, normal wear for the age;
• 3 and below: heavy wear, repairs to plan for;
• R or RA: repaired after an impact; how serious varies, and the sheet shows what was repaired.

We generally recommend grade 4 or above.

Interior and exterior grades

Next to the overall grade, letters grade the interior and exterior separately, from A (like new) to E (very worn). A grade 4 car with a B interior is a very good buy.

The body diagram

The sheet includes a drawing of the car seen from above, on which the inspector marks each defect with a code: a letter for the type and a number for the size, from 1 (small) to 3 (large).

• A: scratch (A1 small, A3 large);
• U: dent;
• W: repair or wavy repainted area;
• S: rust;
• C: corrosion;
• P: paint damage;
• X: panel to be replaced;
• XX: panel already replaced.

The exact codes vary slightly from one auction house to another; we translate every sheet for you.

The written notes

The inspector adds remarks in Japanese: options, tyre condition, smells, warning lights, non-original parts. This is often where the decisive information is. We translate them in full before any bid.

Mileage

The sheet gives the recorded mileage. We compare it with the history available, including past roadworthiness inspections (shaken), to catch any inconsistency.

Right-hand drive: settle it first

Japanese-market cars are right-hand drive. They suit countries that drive on the left directly; in countries that drive on the right, rules vary, and some restrict or refuse them. Korean cars, on the other hand, are left-hand drive. We tell you straight away whether the model you want can be registered in your country.

How buying works

You give us the model, year, minimum grade and maximum budget. We shortlist cars, send you the original sheets with their translation, then bid within your limit. A deposit is paid before the auction, the balance once the car is won. The car then ships directly from Japan (Yokohama or Nagoya) to your port, without going through Dubai.

Find out more on our Asia page.

Remember: grade 4 or above, an A or B interior, few codes on the diagram, and notes translated before you bid.