Deciphering Japan Car Auction Sheets: A Buyer's Guide
Japan car auctions are known for their transparency and detailed vehicle information, which is often presented in the form of auction sheets. These sheets serve as valuable documents that provide comprehensive insights into the condition, history, and grading of a vehicle up for auction. Understanding how to read and interpret auction sheets is essential for making informed buying decisions. In this guide, we'll break down the key components of auction sheets and help you decode the information they contain.
The Components of an Auction Sheet:
-
Vehicle Information:
-
Make and Model: The make and model of the car are listed at the top of the auction sheet.
-
Chassis Number (VIN): This unique identifier is crucial for verifying the vehicle's authenticity and history.
-
-
Grading:
-
Japanese auction houses typically assign a grade to each vehicle, ranging from 0 to 6 for overall condition and A to D for interior condition. This grade reflects the overall condition of the car.
-
Grade 6A indicates excellent condition, while 3D or 3.5C denotes vehicles with minor to significant issues. We recommened you to choose a overall grade above 4 and interior grade above B.
-
-
Exterior Condition:
-
Detailed descriptions and diagrams highlight any exterior damage, including scratches, dents, and rust. Pay close attention to this section to assess the car's cosmetic condition.
-
-
Interior Condition:
-
Similar to the exterior section, the interior condition is thoroughly described, covering issues like stains, tears, and wear and tear on seats, carpets, and other interior components.
-
-
Mechanical Condition:
-
This section outlines any mechanical issues or modifications, such as engine problems, transmission issues, or aftermarket modifications.
-
-
Mileage and Odometer Reading:
-
The auction sheet provides the vehicle's mileage and odometer reading, helping you verify the accuracy of the odometer.
-
-
Additional Information:
-
Auction sheets may include notes about the car's history, previous ownership, service records, or accident history. Pay attention to any red flags or noteworthy information.
-
Sourcing: How to read an auction sheet
Unique identification number for a vehicle in an auction. This number is only unqiue to the respective auction house. Therefore, different auction houses can have same lot numbers.
Year and month of the first registration of the vehicle using Japanese year system.
Make and model of the vehicle. For this example, it is Corolla Axio.
Number of doors and body type of the vehicle. For this example, it is a 4 door sedan.
Model details of the vehicle. For this example, it is Hybrid G.
Overall auction grade of the vehicle. For this example, the overall auction grade is 4.5.
Overall grade
6 New
5 As new with no condition faults
4.5 Very clean, one panel affected by minor paint blemish
4 More than one panel affected by minor paint blemishes
3.5 Some attention to panel and paint is required
3 Rough overall condition
2 Serious panel damage, rusty or water damaged
1 Significant performance upgrades or mechanical changes
A, 0, R Accident damage and repair
A, 0, R and its variations (RS, R0, RA, A1) are commonly used to indicate vehicles that have undergone repairs, with RA, A1, and R1 representing minor repairs. However, it is important to note that vehicles with repairs in the rear or dents in structural components such as chassis rails are excluded from SEVS import in Australia. Consequently, we strongly advise you to refrain from considering any of these vehicles for SEVS import.
Engine size of the vehicle. For this example, engine size of the vehicle is 1500cc.
Fuel type of the vehicle. For this example, fuel type of the vehicle is gasoline.
Model code of the vehicle.
Exterior condition of the vehicle.
Exterior
A Excellent/as new exterior condition
B Good exterior condition with un-noticible scratches/dents
C Average exterior with clearly visible scratches/dents from a distance
D Poor exterior condition with missing body panels/accident damage.
Interior condition of the vehicle.
Interior
A Excellent/as new interior condition
B Very clean good interior condition
C Average / clean for age including expected wear and tear
D Cigarette burns / smell, rips, tears, or other damage to interior, significant wear and tear
Odometer reading of the vehicle at auction.
Different transmission types are identified in various ways. Typically, an automatic car will have an A in its designation (such as FA, FAT, AT), while a manual transmission is indicated by designations like F5, F6 (for 5 or 6 speeds), MT, 5MT, 6MT, etc. Occasionally, a column shift transmission vehicle will include a C in its designation. Tiptronic transmissions are commonly referred to simply as automatic. For this emaple, it is FAT. which mean it is full automatic transmission.
Type of aircondition available in the vehicle. For this example, it is auto aircondition.
Color code of the vehicle body. For this example, vehicle body color is pearl.
The features of the vehicle, which could be a selling point, will be mentioned here. For this example, the features mentioned include Kenwood navigation/TV, a rear camera, and cruise control.
General features of the vehicle will be mentioned in this section. For this example, the general features mentioned are ABS (Anti-lock Breaking System), power steering, and power windows.
Chassis number or VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) for the vehicle. Combine the models to get the complete chassis number or VIN. For this example, it is NKE165-7172899.
Vehicle inspection notes from the inspector. Often, this re-iterates the exterior and interior damage of the vehicle in greater detail.
A Scratch
S, C Rust
U, V, B Dent
E Pin dent
P, H Paint fade
G Stone chip in the glass
Y Crack
W Wave's in the paint or paint imperfections
X Damaged part needing replacement
XX Part has been replaced in the past
R Repaired windshield crack
RX Repaired windshield crack (must be replaced)
Many of these also come with a corresponding number ranging from 1 to 3 to indicate the severity, with A1 representing a minor scratch and A3 indicating severe scratch, for example.
Tyre condition is a number typically noted next to each tyre. The numbers will range from 0 to 10, with 10 being brand new and 0 indicating tyre replacement is required.
You can use Google Lens to translate the auction sheet from Japanese to English.