A and B are the two most common damage codes on Japanese auction sheets. A means scratch. B means dent. Every used car will have some — the question is how many, where they are, and how severe. This guide explains every level of both codes, what counts as normal at each grade, how combined marks work, and what the location of marks tells you beyond the code itself.
How Damage Codes Work
Every damage mark on a Japanese auction sheet has two parts: a letter identifying the type of damage, and a number from 1 to 3 indicating severity. The letter tells you what kind of damage occurred. The number tells you how bad it is.
The number scale is consistent across all damage types on the sheet:
- 1 — Minor. Small, superficial, limited repair needed or none.
- 2 — Moderate. Noticeable, requires professional repair.
- 3 — Severe. Significant damage, panel repair or replacement likely needed.
So A2 means a moderate scratch, B3 means a severe dent, and A1B1 means a minor scratch and minor dent in the same location. Once you understand the system it is consistent and readable across every auction sheet from every auction house in Japan.
A Marks — Scratches
The letter A records a scratch — any damage where the surface has been abraded by contact with another object. This includes key scratches, contact scrapes from other vehicles, car wash brush marks, stone chips in concentrated areas, and paint damage from branches or walls.
A1 on door edges and bumper corners is completely normal on any used Japanese car and should not concern you. These are the highest-contact areas in everyday parking. A car with zero A marks is either very new, very rarely driven, or the inspector missed something.
B Marks — Dents
The letter B records a dent — a deformation of the panel without necessarily breaking the paint surface. Dents are caused by impacts: door dings in car parks, hail stones, low-speed collisions, and objects falling onto the bodywork. A B mark without an accompanying A mark means the panel was pushed in without the paint being broken.
B marks on roofs and bonnets in clusters almost always indicate hail damage. A car with 8–12 B1 marks scattered across the roof and bonnet was caught in a hailstorm. The auction inspector records each dent individually — so a hail-damaged car can have a very high total mark count even though each individual mark is small.
Combined AB Marks
When the same location has both a scratch and a dent from the same impact, the inspector writes both codes together. You will see these combinations most often on bumpers, door edges, and wheel arches where contact with another object simultaneously pushed in the panel and abraded the paint.
AB vs separate A and B marks: When A and B appear together (A2B2) the damage is at a single location from one incident. When A and B appear separately in different positions on the diagram they are independent incidents at different locations on the car.
How Many A and B Marks Is Normal?
One of the most useful things you can do when reading a damage diagram is count the total marks and compare them to what is typical for that grade. A car with an unusually high mark count for its stated grade is either graded too generously or has had significant wear.
| Grade | Typical A+B count | Severity pattern | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| S | 0–1 | A1 only if any | Essentially new condition. Any mark is exceptional. |
| 6 | 0–2 | A1 only | Near-new. Very light marks only. |
| 5 | 2–5 | A1, occasional B1 | Excellent used condition. Marks small and isolated. |
| 4.5 | 4–8 | A1–A2, B1, occasional B2 | Good used condition. Noticeable marks but cosmetic only. |
| 4 | 6–12 | A1–A2, B1–B2, occasional A3/B3 | Average used condition. Multiple marks across body. |
| 3.5 | 10–16 | A2–A3, B2–B3 present | Below average. Significant cosmetic work needed. |
| 3 | 15+ | A3 and B3 on multiple panels | Poor cosmetic condition. Extensive repair required. |
Count vs grade mismatch is a buying signal. A car graded 4.5 with 14 A and B marks is not a typical 4.5 — it should be graded lower. Either the inspector was generous or the marks are concentrated in less visible areas. Either way, compare the mark count against the grade before deciding whether the price is fair.
Location Matters as Much as Severity
The same A2 mark means very different things depending on where it appears on the damage diagram. The location tells you whether the damage is cosmetic or potentially structural — and whether you should be concerned about hidden damage beyond what the mark shows.
| Location | A/B marks here mean | Concern level |
|---|---|---|
| Bumpers (front/rear) | Low-speed contact — parking, reversing. Most common location for all A and B marks. | Low — expected on any used car |
| Door edges | Car park door ding contacts. Nearly universal on Japanese used cars. | Low — standard wear |
| Door faces | Side impact from another vehicle or object. Larger marks suggest more force. | Medium — check door alignment and B-pillar |
| Front wings / fenders | Front-end contact. Could be frontal impact or side-swipe. | Medium — check bonnet alignment and headlight fit |
| Bonnet | Concentrated B marks = hail damage. Long A marks = road debris or contact. A3 = possible front impact. | Medium — check if W marks also present near bonnet |
| Roof | Multiple B1 marks scattered = hail. Single large B3 = falling object or roll. | Medium to high depending on pattern |
| Rear quarter panels | Side impact at rear. Quarter panels are structural — check for W marks alongside. | High — structural proximity, check carefully |
| Pillars (A, B, C) | Structural pillars. A or B marks here are unusual and serious. | Very high — structural concern, requires inspection |
| Sills / rocker panels | Stone chips at bottom are normal. B marks here may indicate kerb contact or jacking damage. | Medium — check sill integrity underneath |
The Difference Between A/B Marks and W Marks
New readers of auction sheets sometimes confuse A and B marks with W marks. They are completely different categories and the distinction is critical:
- A and B marks — cosmetic damage to the outer surface of a panel. Scratches and dents that have not been repaired. The panel is original and undisturbed underneath.
- W marks — a panel that has been repaired or replaced after an accident. W marks indicate the car has had body work done — panel straightening, filler application, or full panel replacement. W on the damage diagram means the car's history includes panel repair, not just surface wear.
A car with only A and B marks has cosmetic wear on original panels. A car with W marks has had accident repair work done on those panels. The presence of W marks is far more significant than A or B marks of any severity — it indicates the car has accident history, even if it does not receive an R grade.
The most important rule: Read A and B marks to assess cosmetic condition and repair cost. Read W marks to assess accident history. These are separate questions that require reading different parts of the damage diagram.
Price Impact of A and B Marks
Understanding how A and B marks affect price helps you assess whether you are being charged appropriately for the car's actual condition — and where negotiating room exists.
| Mark type and count | Typical price impact vs clean equivalent | Repair cost estimate |
|---|---|---|
| 1–3 × A1 marks only | Negligible — within normal Grade 4.5/5 range | $0–$50 (polish) |
| Multiple A1/B1 across body | −5 to −10% vs equivalent clean car | $100–$300 (PDR + touch-up) |
| A2/B2 on 2–3 panels | −10 to −20% | $300–$800 (touch-up or partial respray) |
| A3/B3 on 1–2 panels | −15 to −25% | $500–$1,500 (panel respray or replacement) |
| A3/B3 on multiple panels | −25 to −40% — Grade 3 territory | $1,500–$4,000+ (extensive body work) |
| B1 scattered across roof/bonnet (hail) | −20 to −35% — hail cars sell at significant discount | $800–$3,000 (PDR for each dent) |
Repair cost in your country matters. Body repair costs vary significantly between Pakistan, Kenya, UAE, UK and New Zealand. A $300 respray in Pakistan costs $1,500 in New Zealand. Factor your local repair costs — not Japanese costs — when evaluating whether the asking price is fair given the marks on the sheet.
Reading a Real Damage Diagram — Example
Here is how to read a typical Grade 4.5 damage diagram with A and B marks:
Imagine the diagram shows: A1 (rear bumper right), A1B1 (front bumper left), A2 (left door edge), B1 (right door).
Reading this: the rear bumper has a light surface scratch on the right side — polish-able. The front bumper has a minor scratch and small dent on the left corner — typical parking contact, PDR and touch-up. The left door edge has a moderate scratch — needs touch-up or partial respray. The right door has a small dent — PDR repairable.
This is a completely typical Grade 4.5 damage pattern. Four marks, all cosmetic, all explainable as normal car park wear. Total repair cost in most markets: $150–$400. No W marks, no structural concern, no red flags. This is exactly the kind of car most buyers are looking for.
Now compare this to a diagram showing: A2B2 (front bumper), W2 (front right wing), W1 (bonnet), A2 (right door). The A and B marks are similar severity — but the W marks on the front wing and bonnet change everything. This car has had front-end accident repair. The A2B2 on the bumper may be from the same incident. This warrants much more caution, independent of the A and B marks themselves.
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