A Japanese auction sheet contains significantly more information than most import buyers ever read. Most people check the grade and move on — missing the interior grade, the inspector notes, the equipment list and the damage diagram details that together tell the real story of the vehicle. This guide walks through every section of an auction sheet, explains the exterior and interior grading systems in full, and shows you how to read the sheet like an experienced buyer.
Every Section of an Auction Sheet
Every Japanese auction sheet — regardless of auction house or format — contains the same eight sections of information. Understanding what each section contains and how to read it is the foundation of using an auction sheet effectively.
1
Vehicle Information
Make, model, year, chassis number, engine displacement, transmission type, drive type, fuel type, colour code and auction date. The chassis number is the unique identifier — every other verification starts here.
2
Exterior Condition Grade
The headline grade — S, 6, 5, 4.5, 4, 3.5, 3, 2, 1, R or RA. Assigned by the licensed inspector after physical examination. The single most important number for pricing, but must be read alongside the damage diagram.
3
Interior Grade
A separate letter grade — A, B, C or D — rating the condition of the cabin independently from the exterior. Often overlooked, but critical for resale value and buyer satisfaction.
4
Odometer / Mileage
The odometer reading recorded and verified by the inspector at the time of auction. The most reliable mileage figure available for any Japanese import. May include mileage doubt stars (★ ★★ ★★★) if the inspector suspected tampering.
5
Body Damage Diagram
A top-down and/or side outline of the vehicle with all damage marks plotted by location and code. Each mark is a letter (damage type) and number (severity 1–3). The most detailed section of the sheet.
6
Equipment List
All factory and aftermarket features observed — navigation, sunroof, HID lights, ETC device, alloy wheels, reverse camera, seat type, keyless entry and more. Written in Japanese abbreviations.
7
Inspector Notes
Free-text observations from the inspector about anything the standard codes do not capture — engine sounds, electrical faults, smells, recent repairs, modifications. Written in Japanese. Often the most important section.
8
Auction Details
Auction house name, auction date, lot number and hammer price (what the car actually sold for in Japan). The hammer price is invaluable for understanding the car's true market value at export.
Exterior Grades — The Full Scale
The exterior condition grade is assigned by a licensed auction inspector after a hands-on physical examination of the vehicle. It is a holistic assessment of the car's overall condition — bodywork, mechanical presentation, accident history, and age-appropriate wear. The scale runs from S (exceptional) down through numerical grades to R and RA (accident-repaired).
| Grade | Condition | What to expect | Typical buyer |
|---|
| S |
Showroom perfect |
No marks, no wear, essentially new. Extremely rare on used cars. |
Collectors, showroom stock |
| 6 |
Near-new |
Maximum 1–2 tiny marks. Very low mileage, garaged, minimal use. |
Buyers wanting near-new condition |
| 5 |
Excellent used |
A few minor marks, no structural issues, no accident history. Best daily driver grade. |
Most private buyers |
| 4.5 |
Good used |
Several minor marks, all cosmetic. Most common grade at auction. |
Value buyers, daily drivers |
| 4 |
Average used |
Noticeable marks across body. May need cosmetic attention on arrival. |
Budget buyers comfortable with cosmetics |
| 3.5 |
Below average |
Multiple significant marks. Cosmetic work needed before resale. |
Dealers with body shop access |
| 3 |
Poor cosmetic condition |
Extensive marks across many panels. Significant cosmetic investment required. |
Workshop buyers, parts |
| R |
Repaired — accident history |
Was in an accident, repaired. Airbags did not deploy. Quality varies. |
Experienced buyers, mechanics |
| RA |
Repaired — airbags deployed |
Serious accident, airbags fired, repaired. Structural risk present. |
Specialist buyers only |
Grade 4.5 is the sweet spot for most import buyers — good condition at a significant discount versus Grade 5. The mark count and locations on the damage diagram matter more than the 0.5 grade difference between 4 and 4.5.
Interior Grades — A, B, C and D Explained
The interior grade is one of the most underused sections of an auction sheet. It is assessed and recorded separately from the exterior grade, and the two grades often do not align — it is completely normal for a car to have a better exterior grade than interior grade.
The interior grade covers: seats (fabric or leather), carpet and floor mats, headlining, dashboard and instrument cluster surround, door cards and trims, centre console, and any steering wheel or gear knob wear. The inspector checks all these elements and assigns a single A–D grade.
Seats: No visible wear, staining or damage. Fabric or leather intact.
Carpet: Clean, no staining, no wear patches.
Dashboard: No cracks, no UV fading, all trims intact.
Typical mileage: Usually under 50,000km. Low-use vehicle.
Resale impact: Maximum interior value — commands premium.
Seats: Minor wear consistent with normal use. No significant staining.
Carpet: Light wear on driver's footwell. Minor marks.
Dashboard: Intact, possibly minor trim scuffs.
Typical mileage: 50,000–100,000km. Normal private use.
Resale impact: Good — most buyers accept B interior without concern.
Seats: Visible wear, possible staining on fabric. Leather may have creasing.
Carpet: Noticeable wear patches, possible staining.
Dashboard: Possible minor cracks, trim wear, UV fading on plastics.
Typical mileage: 100,000km+. Heavy daily use.
Resale impact: Reduces retail value. Factor seat/carpet cleaning or replacement.
Seats: Heavy wear, significant staining, tears, or damage to upholstery.
Carpet: Heavy wear, staining, or damage. May smell.
Dashboard: Cracks, broken trims, faded plastics.
Typical mileage: High mileage or commercial/taxi use.
Resale impact: Significant. Full interior refurbishment needed for retail.
Common exterior/interior grade combinations and what they mean
4.5 / A
Exterior / Interior
Good exterior with excellent interior — well-maintained, probably garaged. Commands a premium. Look for low mileage.
5 / B
Exterior / Interior
Most common "sweet spot" combination. Excellent exterior, good interior — typical well-maintained private car. Best value grade combination.
4.5 / C
Exterior / Interior
Good exterior but interior shows heavy use. Common on cars used daily for years. Budget for interior refurbishment.
4 / D
Exterior / Interior
Below-average exterior and poor interior — budget car. Mechanically may be fine, but significant cosmetic investment required inside and out.
Interior grade D is a buying signal, not a dealbreaker. A Grade 4.5 exterior with D interior often means the engine and mechanicals are well-maintained — Japanese owners who drive a lot often keep the mechanical side perfect while the cabin wears. Price accordingly and budget for a full interior clean.
Reading the Damage Diagram
The damage diagram is a standardised outline of the vehicle — typically shown as a top-down view with front and rear visible, sometimes with separate side views. Every panel that has any damage is marked on the diagram with its code and severity number.
The key to reading the damage diagram correctly is not just identifying individual marks — it is reading the overall pattern.
1
Identify every mark and its location
Write down or note each code — A1, B2, W3, etc. — and which panel it is on. Some sheets show the mark directly on the panel, others use numbers pointing to positions.
2
Separate cosmetic from structural
A and B marks are cosmetic — scratches and dents on panel surfaces. W marks are repairs — these indicate accident history. X, S marks are corrosion. E marks are mechanical. Group them by type before assessing.
3
Look for clustering
Multiple marks in the same zone — front bumper + bonnet + right wing + right headlight area — suggest a single significant frontal incident rather than accumulated normal wear. Clustering around one corner of the car is more concerning than the same total number of marks scattered independently.
4
Check panel alignment implications
W marks on the bonnet and front wing together suggest the bonnet gap and headlight alignment may have been affected. W on a door and the adjacent B-pillar raises structural concern. Always think about what adjacent panels the marked panel connects to.
5
Cross-reference with grade and photos
A Grade 4 car with only two A1 marks is better than its grade suggests. A Grade 4.5 with 14 marks spread across the body is worse. Count the marks and compare to what is typical for that grade. Then use the auction photos to see what the marks actually look like.
Different auction houses use different visual layouts, but all contain the same information. Knowing which house produced a sheet helps you navigate it faster:
📋USS (Universal Service System) — Standard vertical format
Japan's largest auction network. Vehicle diagram in the centre, marks plotted around it. Grade top-left, mileage and chassis top-right. Equipment list bottom section. USS is considered the strictest grader — a USS Grade 4.5 is more reliable than the same grade from a smaller house.
📋TAU (Toyota Auto Auction) — Structured grid format
Toyota manufacturer auction. Very structured layout with the vehicle diagram and a detailed equipment grid. Toyota and Lexus vehicles almost exclusively. Notes section often includes service history entries.
📋HAA (Honda Auto Auction) — Honda-specific format
Honda manufacturer auction. Similar structure to TAU but Honda/Acura vehicles. Includes detailed spec breakdown of trim level and options. Reliable grading from a manufacturer-controlled environment.
📋LAA Kansai — Horizontal multi-angle format
Shows vehicle from multiple angles horizontally across the sheet rather than a single top-down view. Same coding system. Some buyers find this format easier to read for locating specific panel marks.
📋JU (Japan Used Car Dealers) — Regional network format
Network of smaller regional auctions. Format varies slightly by region. Same grading system applies but strictness can vary more than at USS or manufacturer auctions. Always check which specific house within the JU network.
💻Digital/online format — Increasingly common
Structured data display rather than a scanned sheet image. Photo gallery separate from the data. All the same fields but displayed in a table format. Easier to read but inspector notes may be more abbreviated.
Equipment List Abbreviations Decoded
The equipment list is written in Japanese abbreviations that follow consistent patterns across all auction houses. Here is a comprehensive decode of the most common terms:
| Abbreviation | Meaning | Notes |
|---|
| A/C | Air conditioning | Standard on virtually all Japanese cars |
| AT / MT / CVT | Automatic / Manual / CVT transmission | Transmission type |
| 4WD / AWD | Four-wheel drive / All-wheel drive | Drivetrain type |
| HID | High-Intensity Discharge headlights (xenon) | Better than halogen, older premium feature |
| LED | LED headlights | Modern premium feature |
| ALS | Auto light sensor (automatic headlights) | Lights activate in low-light conditions |
| BSM | Blind spot monitor | Radar-based safety feature |
| LDA | Lane departure alert | Toyota safety system |
| PCS | Pre-collision system (automatic emergency braking) | Toyota safety system |
| ETC | Electronic toll collection device | Japan highway toll transponder — not useful when exported |
| TV / NAV | Television / Navigation (car navigation system) | Japanese nav maps not useful abroad |
| BT / Bluetooth | Bluetooth connectivity | Phone and audio pairing |
| PW | Power windows | Electric window lifts on all doors |
| PSD | Power sliding door | Motorised sliding door — minivans |
| PSR | Power sunroof | Electric panoramic or standard sunroof |
| SR | Sunroof (manual) | Manual sunroof or moonroof |
| AW | Alloy wheels | Aluminium alloy vs steel wheels |
| RC | Reverse camera / Rear camera | Parking assistance camera |
| BC | Back camera (same as RC) | Reverse camera |
| KES / SES | Keyless entry system / Smart entry system | Push-button start or proximity key |
| SRS | Supplemental restraint system | Airbag system — number indicates count |
| ABS | Anti-lock braking system | Standard on all modern Japanese cars |
| VSC | Vehicle stability control | Toyota traction/stability system |
| TRC | Traction control | Wheel spin prevention |
| HL / HaL | Half leather / Leather seats | Seat upholstery material |
| PS | Power steering | Standard on all modern vehicles |
| 8人 / 7人 | 8-person / 7-person seating capacity | Japanese numerals followed by 人 (person) |
Japanese navigation systems are not useful after export. A car listed with NAV has a navigation unit built in, but it contains Japanese maps only. Do not pay a premium for Japanese navigation unless you specifically want the screen for media playback.
Inspector Notes — The Most Overlooked Section
Inspector notes are the free-text section where the inspector records anything that does not fit into the standardised code system. This section is entirely in Japanese — and it is frequently where the most important information about a vehicle is recorded.
What inspectors commonly record in notes:
- Engine observations — specific sounds heard during idle or test drive, oil condition, smoke type and colour
- Transmission feel — slipping, rough shifts, fluid condition
- Electrical faults — which warning lights were illuminated and which system they refer to
- Unusual smells — fuel smell (fuel system), burning smell (electrical or oil), musty smell (water entry)
- Recent repairs — notes on work recently done that the inspector observed evidence of
- Modifications — aftermarket parts, suspension changes, body kits, engine modifications
- Mileage doubt reasoning — when mileage stars are present, the notes often explain what specifically triggered the inspector's doubt
- Flood notation — 冠水 (kansui) is the Japanese term for flood damage and appears only in the notes section, never in the standard codes
Flood cars are only detectable through translation. The word 冠水 (flood/submersion) does not appear as a standard damage code — it is written in the inspector notes in Japanese. A car with flood history will look completely clean on the damage diagram. The only way to detect this is to translate the notes. This is the single most important reason to always order a translation.
Mileage Doubt Stars
When the inspector suspects the odometer reading may not be genuine, they add star symbols (★) next to the mileage figure. The number of stars indicates their level of concern:
- ★ (one star) — mild doubt. Mileage seems slightly low for the vehicle's condition or age, but not definitively suspicious.
- ★★ (two stars) — significant doubt. Clear discrepancy between condition and mileage, or evidence of odometer work. Treat as a serious warning.
- ★★★ (three stars) — near-certain fraud. Inspector is confident the odometer has been tampered with. Do not buy without cross-referencing against previous auction records.
Check multiple auction records for mileage verification. If a car has been through auction more than once, JP Sheet returns all records. Comparing the mileage across two records is the definitive way to confirm or expose odometer fraud — a decreasing mileage between records is physically impossible and proves manipulation.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What do the interior grades A B C D mean on a Japanese auction sheet?
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Interior grades rate the condition of the cabin separately from the exterior. Grade A is excellent — no visible wear, staining or damage. Grade B is good — minor wear consistent with normal use. Grade C is average — visible wear, possible staining on seats or carpet. Grade D is poor — heavy wear, significant staining, tears or damage to upholstery. A car can have a higher exterior grade than interior grade — this is common.
What is the difference between the exterior grade and interior grade?
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The exterior grade (S, 6, 5, 4.5, 4, 3.5, 3, R, RA) rates the overall condition of the bodywork, mechanical presentation and accident history. The interior grade (A, B, C, D) rates only the condition of the cabin — seats, carpet, headlining, dashboard and door cards. Both are assessed independently. A common pattern is exterior 4.5 with interior B — good bodywork but the cabin shows normal usage wear.
What are the sections of a Japanese auction sheet?
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A Japanese auction sheet contains eight sections: vehicle information (make, model, year, chassis number), exterior condition grade, interior grade, odometer reading with any doubt stars, body damage diagram with all damage codes, equipment list of features, inspector notes in Japanese, and auction details including house name, date and hammer price.
What does the equipment list on a Japanese auction sheet mean?
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The equipment list records all factory and aftermarket features observed by the inspector — navigation, sunroof, HID or LED headlights, reverse camera, keyless entry, ETC toll device, alloy wheels and more. It is written in Japanese abbreviations. A translation converts it fully to English so you know exactly what equipment the car has and what to expect on arrival.
Why should I always translate the inspector notes?
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Inspector notes are the free-text section where the inspector records anything not covered by standard codes — engine sounds, electrical faults, unusual smells, and most critically, flood history. The Japanese term for flood damage (冠水) only appears in notes, never in standard codes. A flood car will look clean on the damage diagram. Translation is the only way to detect flood notation, mileage doubt reasoning, and specific mechanical observations.
What auction sheet formats do different Japanese auction houses use?
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USS uses a vertical format with the vehicle outline in the centre and is the largest and strictest network. TAU (Toyota) and HAA (Honda) are manufacturer auctions with structured grid formats. LAA Kansai uses a horizontal multi-angle format. JU is a regional dealer network with varying formats. Digital auctions use a structured data display. All formats contain the same eight sections of information despite different visual layouts.
