📘 Chapter 4: Auction Sheets, Grades & Verifying Cars Before You Buy
📘 Chapter 4: Auction Sheets, Grades & Verifying Cars Before You Buy
Don’t Judge a Car by Its Photos — Read the Grade First!
When importing used cars, especially from Japan, the most powerful tool you have to verify a car’s true condition is the auction sheet. Many first-time buyers don’t know how to read it — or worse, they ignore it altogether.
This chapter will teach you how to:
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Understand Japanese auction grades
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Read an auction sheet
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Avoid misleading exports
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Spot fake sheets or manipulated reports
📊 4.1 What is a Japanese Auction Sheet?
A Japanese car auction sheet is an official vehicle inspection report prepared by licensed auction houses in Japan. It's created before the auction begins, by professional inspectors, and shows:
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Mechanical condition
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Body damage map
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Mileage (actual or tampered)
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Interior and exterior condition
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Any replaced parts or repainting
💡 Auction sheets are your “x-ray” into a used car — more honest than showroom pictures.
🏷️ 4.2 Understanding Auction Grades
Here’s a breakdown of the most common auction grades and what they mean:
| Grade | Condition | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | As good as new | Rare, almost zero mileage, recent production year |
| 5 | Excellent condition | Very low mileage, no repairs, showroom-grade |
| 4.5 | Very good condition | Minor signs of use, clean inside and out |
| 4 | Good condition | Minor scratches/dents, clean interior |
| 3.5 | Fair condition | Noticeable wear, dents, scratches |
| 3 | Below average | Heavy wear, older car, some repairs likely |
| RA/R | Repaired after accident | Frame or chassis was repaired |
| A | Interior grade (A = excellent) | Interior rated separately, A to D scale |
| ***** | Modified car or unknown grade | Often performance cars with heavy modifications |
🚩 Avoid Grade R or Below unless you're a mechanic or it's a special-purpose car.
📄 4.3 Sample Auction Sheet Breakdown
Below is a sample auction sheet layout and explanation:
| 🧾 Auction Sheet Field | 📌 Explanation |
|---|---|
| Auction House | (e.g., USS Tokyo) — Trusted auction location |
| Lot Number | Auction listing reference number |
| Grade | Overall car condition (e.g., 4.5) |
| Mileage | Kilometers (verify it's original!) |
| Year/Model | Year of manufacture (verify it’s 8 years or less!) |
| Engine Size | Important for tax calculations (CC) |
| Interior Grade | A = like new, C = moderate wear |
| Remarks | Inspector’s written notes — translated by exporters |
| Diagram (Car Outline) | Shows scratches (A1), dents (U1), paintwork (W2), etc. |
🗺️ 4.4 Understanding the Damage Map (Car Diagram)
Here’s how to read the symbols on the body diagram:
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| A1 – A3 | Scratch (small to large) |
| U1 – U3 | Dent (small to large) |
| Y1 – Y3 | Dent with crack |
| W1 – W3 | Wavy paint (repainted) |
| S1 | Rust |
| XX | Replaced panel |
| X | Panel needs replacement |
| P | Paintwork done |
| E | Engine issue |
✅ Small A1, U1, or W1 marks are normal and usually not noticeable.
🔍 4.5 Verifying the Auction Sheet is Genuine
To ensure you’re not being scammed:
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Ask the exporter for the auction lot number
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Use websites like jpauction.co.jp or JapaneseCarTrade.com to cross-check
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Request a translation if it’s in Japanese (many exporters provide this free)
🚨 Never trust screenshots without verifying the actual lot. Scammers often Photoshop sheets.
📷 4.6 Real vs Fake Auction Sheets — What to Look For
| 🔍 Check | ✅ Real | 🚫 Fake |
|---|---|---|
| Lot Number | Can be verified online | No listing found |
| Auction Name | Real auction (e.g., USS, CAA) | Fake or unknown name |
| Mileage Font | Consistent and aligned | Crooked, blurred, or altered |
| Damage Symbols | Match photos | Missing or inconsistent |
| Watermarks or QR codes | Present on real sheets | Often missing in fakes |
📌 4.7 Why This Matters for Kenyan Buyers
If you buy a car without verifying the auction grade:
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You could pay for a repaired accident car (Grade R) thinking it’s clean
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You risk low resale value
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Insurance companies may refuse full coverage
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You're likely to face unexpected repairs after shipping
✅ 4.8 Grade Checklist Before You Import
| ✅ Task | Status |
|---|---|
| Get full auction sheet from exporter | ☐ |
| Verify lot number online | ☐ |
| Confirm grade is 4 or above | ☐ |
| Check mileage is below 100,000 km | ☐ |
| Review car diagram for major damage (X, XX) | ☐ |
| Ask for translated remarks | ☐ |
| Save the sheet for resale purposes later | ☐ |
🎯 Pro Tip
If you're unsure about an auction sheet, share it with the Code & Clutch WhatsApp Assistant for a free review and translation:
📲 +254 717 423 659
Or scan the QR code at the end of this book.
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