📄 How to Read a Japanese Car Auction Sheet Like a Pro: A Beginner’s Guide for Kenyan Buyers

If you’ve ever thought of importing a car from Japan to Kenya, chances are you’ve come across a Japanese auction sheet — filled with cryptic codes, symbols, and grades.

To the untrained eye, it looks like a puzzle.

But to smart importers and car buyers, that sheet is a goldmine of information that can save you from buying a faulty car, paying too much, or getting scammed.

In this guide, we’ll break it all down for you — line by line, symbol by symbol — and by the end, you’ll be able to read and understand any Japanese auction sheet like a pro.

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🧾 What Is a Japanese Car Auction Sheet?

A Japanese car auction sheet is an official inspection and grading document issued by Japanese auction houses. It provides:

• The car’s condition (interior, exterior)

• Its mileage

• Any accident history

• Mechanical and electrical faults

• Repair marks, rust, dents, scratches

• The overall auction grade

It’s created by a professional inspector and is meant to give buyers confidence — especially international buyers like Kenyans who can’t view the car physically.

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🛑 Why It’s So Important for Kenyan Car Buyers

If you're importing a car from Japan:

• You don’t see the car physically

• You’re relying on agents or websites

• Scams and hidden damage do happen

Auction sheets protect you by providing:

• True mileage (odometer tampering is common in local Kenyan dealers)

• Damage reports (dents, repairs, corrosion)

• Confidence that the car is not stolen or cloned

This makes it an essential document before paying for any car.

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🧠 Basic Layout of a Japanese Auction Sheet

Though auction sheet formats vary slightly across houses (e.g., USS, TAA, JU), they all include these common sections:

1. Car Details: Make, model, year, chassis number

2. Mileage: Shown in kilometers

3. Auction Grade: The overall quality score

4. Interior/Exterior Grades

5. Transmission: Auto or manual

6. Drive Type: 2WD, 4WD

7. Condition Map: Shows where dents, rust, or repairs exist

8. Inspector Notes: Comments in Japanese (usually translated)

Let’s break down each of these next.

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🔢 Section-by-Section Breakdown (with Translations)

1. 🆔 Basic Vehicle Information

• Make/Model: Toyota Axio, Subaru Forester, etc.

• Chassis Number: e.g., NZE141-123456

• Year/Month: e.g., 2018/07

• Fuel Type: Petrol (G), Diesel (D), Hybrid (H)

• Color: e.g., Pearl White

• Transmission: AT (Automatic), MT (Manual), CVT

📌 Why It Matters: Confirms you’re buying the correct year/model as agreed.

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2. 📉 Mileage (走行距離 - Sokō kyori)

• Listed in kilometers, e.g., 62,000 km

• Marked as:

  • “実走行” = Verified mileage

  • “改ざん” = Suspected tampering

  • “不明” = Unknown

✅ Look for verified mileage only — avoid anything marked “不明”.

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3. 🎖️ Auction Grade (Overall Car Condition)

Grade	Meaning
S	Brand new (less than 5,000 km)
6	Almost new
5	Excellent condition
4.5	Very good
4	Good, minor wear
3.5	Fair, some dents/scratches
3	Poor, several issues
R/RA	Repaired car (accident history)
0/1/2	Salvage/very poor

✅ Recommended Grades for Kenyan buyers:

• 4.5, 4, or 3.5 — reliable and affordable

• Avoid Grade R unless you understand the repairs done

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4. 🪟 Interior/Exterior Grade

Grade	Meaning
A	Excellent
B	Good
C	Average
D	Below average
E	Poor (torn, dirty, or worn)

📌 Example: “Interior Grade: B” = Clean interior with normal wear

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5. 🔧 Mechanical Remarks (Inspector Comments)

Usually written in Japanese and sometimes translated. Common phrases:

• “エンジン異音なし” = No engine noise

• “バッテリー弱い” = Weak battery

• “エアコン効く” = A/C working

• “サスペンション異常” = Suspension issue

You can use free tools like Google Translate or ask your agent for interpretation.

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🗺️ Decoding the Auction Sheet Damage Map

This is a diagram of the car (usually a top-down view) that shows scratches, dents, rust, and repairs.

Common Symbols on the Diagram:

Symbol	Meaning
A1, A2, A3	Scratches (light to heavy)
U1, U2, U3	Dents (small to large)
W1, W2	Wavy paint or panel distortion
P	Paint damage
X	Panel needs replacement
XX	Replaced panel
B1, B2	Damaged bumper
S1, S2	Rust
C1, C2	Corrosion

🔍 Example: If you see "U2" on the rear bumper — it's a medium-sized dent there.

✅ Good condition cars may only have A1 or U1 markings.

❌ Avoid cars with X, XX, S2, or multiple U3s.

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🧪 Example of a Real Auction Sheet (Explained)

Let’s break down a sample line-by-line.

Auction Grade: 4
Mileage: 72,000 km (実走行)
Year: 2017
Model: Toyota Fielder
Chassis: NZE161-xxxxxxx
Transmission: CVT
Interior Grade: B
Exterior Damage: U1 on door, A1 on bumper
Inspector Comment: “エアコン効く, バッテリー良好” (AC working, battery good)

✅ This car is clean, reliable, with minor cosmetic issues.

🟢 Safe to import.

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🧰 Tools to Check Auction Sheets

1. CarVX.jp – Enter the chassis number and see auction history

2. JEVIC.org – Verify mileage certification

3. Japan Partner – View auction listings with sheets

4. Google Translate App – Scan and translate Japanese comments

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🧠 Tips for Importing with Auction Sheets

✅ Always request the auction sheet BEFORE paying
✅ Ask for the English version or explanation
✅ Use it to negotiate prices with your agent
✅ Beware of doctored/fake sheets — always match it with chassis number
✅ Use an agent who sends original auction links

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🤔 Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Can the auction sheet be faked?

Yes, but rarely if you're using a trusted Japanese supplier. Use CarVX to verify.

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Q2: What’s the best grade for Kenya?

Grade 4 or 4.5 is ideal — good balance between price and quality.

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Q3: Should I accept a car with an R grade?

Only if:

• You see a detailed report of the repairs

• The price is significantly lower

• The car passed JEVIC inspection

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Q4: What about cars with A1/U1 marks?

These are normal cosmetic issues like light scratches or small dings. Harmless.

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🖼️ Image Suggestions for This Article

1. Real Japanese auction sheet with annotation

2. Diagram of auction symbols and what they mean

3. Zoomed image of “A1”, “U1”, and “XX”

4. Infographic of best auction grades

5. CarVX site screenshot verifying mileage

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🧠 Final Takeaway

Understanding a Japanese auction sheet is not just for car dealers — it’s for any smart Kenyan buyer who wants:

• True value for their money

• To avoid scams

• A reliable, long-lasting car

Auction sheets are your first line of defense when importing from Japan.

So don’t ignore them. Learn to read them. Ask questions. And never buy a car blindly again.

🚘 “The auction sheet doesn’t lie — but a seller might.”

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🛠️ Need Help Reading an Auction Sheet?

We’ve helped hundreds of Kenyans decode and choose the perfect import. If you need help:

📲 WhatsApp: 0717423659
🌐 Visit Code & Clutch