What Is a Japanese Auction Sheet?
A Japanese auction sheet is like a report card for a car. It tells you how the car is doing, inside and outside. Just like a school report card gives you grades for Math and English, a car gets grades for the outside (body) and inside (seats, dashboard, etc.). Let’s find out interior exterior grades.
When cars are sold at auction in Japan, professionals check the car and write down what they see. They give grades for how the car looks and how good it is.
✨ Why Interior Exterior Grades Matter?
Imagine buying a toy without seeing it. You want to know if it has scratches, if the paint is okay, or if anything is broken. That’s exactly why auction sheets are important! These grades help you know:
- Is the car clean or dirty?
- Does it have scratches or dents?
- Are the seats torn?
- Is the dashboard cracked?
- Was the car taken care of?
Interior Grade – What’s Inside the Car?
Interior grade tells you about the inside part of the car. This includes:
- Seats
- Dashboard
- Roof lining
- Floor mats
- Steering wheel
- Smell inside the car
Here are the grades you might see:
✅ Grade A – Like New!
- Looks very clean
- No damage at all
- No smell
- Seats are not torn or dirty
- Dashboard looks shiny
This car feels like nobody has ever used it. Super clean!
✅ Grade B – Nice and Clean
- Just small marks
- Seats may have tiny wear
- Everything works fine
- Smells fresh or neutral
A very good car. Only small signs of use.
⚠️ Grade C – Used but Okay
- Seats may be a little dirty
- Some small scratches or stains
- Might have a bit of smell (like food or smoke)
- Dashboard might have small marks
Still okay for everyday use, but not perfect.
⚠️ Grade D – Needs Attention
- Big stains or tears in seats
- Cigarette burns on seats
- Sticky dashboard
- Bad smell like smoke or pets
This car needs cleaning or fixing inside.
❌ Grade E – Very Dirty or Broken
- Seats are torn badly
- Smells very bad
- Many things broken inside
- Looks messy or abandoned
This car needs a lot of repair before using it.
🚘 Exterior Grade – What’s Outside the Car?
The outside grade talks about the car’s body and paint. This includes:
- Bumpers
- Doors
- Mirrors
- Windows
- Roof
- Tires
- Paint
Here are the grades:
✅ Grade A – Like New!
- No scratches
- No dents
- Paint is shiny
- Everything looks new
This car looks like it just came from the showroom.
✅ Grade B – Very Good
- One or two small scratches
- Maybe one tiny dent
- Still looks great
Most people won’t even notice the small damage.
⚠️ Grade C – Used Condition
- Visible scratches
- Few dents
- Paint may be faded in some places
Still works fine, but not beautiful.
⚠️ Grade D – Rough Outside
- Many scratches
- Dents on multiple parts
- Paint may be peeling
This car needs body work or repainting.
❌ Grade E – Bad Shape
- Big dents or crashes
- Rust everywhere
- Paint coming off
This car’s outside needs a lot of fixing.
🔧 What If You See These Marks?
Sometimes, the auction sheet has symbols or codes like:
- X or XX: Part is damaged or replaced
- A1 or A3: Scratch – small to big
- U1 or U3: Dent – small to large
- W1 or W3: Wavy panel – repaired before
These codes help you know exactly where the problem is.
🧾 Example for Easy Understanding
Let’s say you see this:
- Interior Grade: B
- Exterior Grade: C
- U2 on Left Door
- A1 on Bumper
What does this mean?
- Interior is clean, just normal use.
- Exterior has some scratches and dents.
- Left door has a medium dent.
- Bumper has a small scratch.
This car is okay if you’re fine with little marks.
👀 What to Look For Before Buying
- Always check both grades (inside and outside)
- Look for too many U (dents) or X (replaced parts)
- Ask for photos of every angle
- Use an auction sheet translator or trusted agent
- If interior is Grade D or E, expect bad smell or ripped seats
- If exterior is Grade D or E, expect rust, big dents, or missing parts
What Is the Best Grade to Buy?
- If you want a very clean car – Go for A or B
- If you want a good deal – Grade C can be okay
- If you are okay with fixing it – Grade D or E
🧠 Final Thoughts
Buying a car from Japan is easy if you understand the auction sheet. Grades help you know what you are getting before the car arrives.
- A = Amazing
- B = Better
- C = Common
- D = Damaged
- E = End of life
Now you can read interior and exterior grades like a pro, even if you’re just starting. Always take your time, ask questions, and compare cars. A good grade means less worry and more joy when your car comes!