Reading a Japanese auction sheet
Every car that passes through a Japanese auction is inspected and graded. The sheet is the single most useful document in the whole process, and it is the one thing a seller cannot argue with. Here is what the numbers, letters and diagram marks mean.
Overall grade
- S / 6Essentially new, under about 10,000km.
Rare and priced accordingly. Expect a bidding war.
- 5Near new, no repairs, very low mileage.
Buy with confidence; the premium is usually worth it.
- 4.5Excellent, minor cosmetic marks only.
The sweet spot for a collectible performance car.
- 4Good condition, small scratches or dents, no structural repair.
The most common grade worth importing. Read the diagram carefully.
- 3.5Average, visible wear, possible panel repair.
Fine for a driver car if the diagram shows no structural work.
- 3Noticeable damage, repairs or high mileage.
Budget for paint and panel. Get extra photos before bidding.
- 2 / 1Heavy modification, corrosion, or major mechanical issues.
Only for parts or a full build. We will not source these without a written brief.
- R / RA / 0Repaired accident history — structural repair recorded.
Avoid unless it is a rare car and the repair is documented and minor. Compliance in both NZ and AU can reject damaged structure.
- ***Not graded, usually an old or heavily modified car.
Treat as unknown. We arrange an independent inspection first.
Interior grade
Written beside the overall grade. A tidy interior is a good proxy for how the whole car was treated.
- A
- Like new. No smoking, no stains, no wear.
- B
- Very good. Light wear on seats and steering wheel.
- C
- Average. Stains, burns or worn trim.
- D
- Poor. Torn seats, missing trim, strong odour.
Marks on the body diagram
The little car outline on the right of the sheet carries a letter for each defect, usually with a number from 1 (small) to 4 (large).
- AScratch (キズ) — number after it grades severity 1–4.
- UDent (へこみ).
- WRepaired or repainted wave (補修).
- SRust (サビ).
- CCorrosion (腐食) — worse than surface rust.
- X / XXPanel needs replacing / has been replaced.
- PPaint mark or blemish.
- BDent with a scratch.
- GStone chip in the glass.
The importer's rule of thumb
- Grade 4 or better with no R history is the target for anything you plan to keep.
- An R-graded car can be sound, but structural repair can fail entry certification in New Zealand and compliance in Australia. Always get the repair described in writing before bidding.
- Rust marks (S and C) matter more than scratches. Rust in the rails or floor is the one defect that turns a cheap car into a money pit.
- We translate the sheet and the inspector's notes for every car we quote, and we will tell you when to walk away.