📊 Understanding Japanese Car Auction Grades: What 6, 5, 4.5, R, RA Mean Before You Import

If you're importing a car from Japan to Kenya, understanding auction grades is one of the most critical steps to avoid surprises.

Auction grades reveal the true condition of the car — not just what’s written on the dashboard or shown in flashy photos. This system is trusted by global buyers to determine whether a vehicle is worth the price, and more importantly, if it’s been in an accident, repaired, or heavily used.

In this article, we’ll explain:

• What Japanese auction grades are

• What each grade means (6, 5, 4.5, 4, 3.5, 3, R, RA, A, etc.)

• How to read the full auction sheet

• How grades affect pricing, resale, and performance

• How to avoid being scammed with fake or hidden grades

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🇯🇵 What Are Japanese Car Auction Grades?

Japan has one of the most organized car resale systems in the world. Thousands of cars are sold weekly through auction houses like USS, TAA, JU, CAA, and ARAI.

Each vehicle is inspected by certified professionals who assign a grade based on:

• Exterior condition

• Interior condition

• Mileage

• Accident/replacement history

• Mechanical issues

• Rust, dents, scratches, repairs

These grades are then written on an auction inspection sheet, along with diagrams of damage and notes.

For importers in Kenya, understanding these grades is key to:

• Avoiding cars that were involved in accidents

• Paying the right price for the condition

• Reselling the car confidently in the Kenyan market

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📈 Overview of Common Auction Grades

Here’s a quick breakdown of the most common grades used in Japan:

Grade	Meaning	Condition
6 / 5 / 4.5	Excellent	Almost new, very low mileage
4	Very Good	Minor wear, no major damage
3.5	Good	Some scratches, average use
3	Fair	Noticeable wear, may need repairs
2 / 1	Poor	High mileage or rough condition
R / RA / A	Accident Cars	Repaired or structural damage
***	Unsellable	Not graded due to damage or theft

Let’s now break these down in detail.

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🏆 Grade 6, 5 & 4.5 – Top Quality Units

🚙 Grade 6

• Like new, almost always brand new or very close

• Mileage typically under 10,000 km

• Rarely available — usually demo cars

💡 Ideal for: High-end buyers looking for showroom-level units

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🚙 Grade 5

• Very close to new, no scratches or dents

• Mileage usually under 50,000 km

• Often one-owner cars, showroom condition

💡 Great choice for: Buyers who want high resale value in Kenya

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🚙 Grade 4.5

• Excellent condition with only minor signs of wear

• Mileage around 50,000–90,000 km

• Well maintained, minimal repairs

💡 Popular for: Kenyan families looking for peace of mind

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✅ Grade 4 – Standard for Kenyan Importers

• Very clean used cars

• May have small scratches (marked as A1 or U1 on the sheet)

• Interior still presentable

• No accident history

This is the sweet spot for most importers to Kenya — good value, decent condition, and easy to resell.

💡 Ideal for: Middle-budget buyers, Uber/Bolt drivers, and daily use

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⚠️ Grade 3.5 – Usable, But Not Perfect

• Visible wear and tear

• Small dents, minor paint touch-ups

• Interior may have stains or fading

• Still mechanically sound

These are cheaper, but may need cosmetic repairs on arrival.

💡 Buy only if: You trust the importer and have a tight budget

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⚠️ Grade 3 and Below – For Repair or Low-Budget Projects

• Dents, fading, rust, or torn interiors

• Likely to have scratches (A2+, U2+)

• Mechanical issues not ruled out

Grade 3 cars are often auctioned for parts, repair jobs, or low-income markets.

💡 Not recommended unless:

• You’re buying directly at a very low price

• You have experience with car restoration

• It’s a specific rare model

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🚨 Grade R, RA, A – Accident/Repaired Cars

Here’s where it gets tricky.

🛑 Grade R

• Structural damage in the past

• May have been involved in an accident

• Has undergone repairs or part replacements

• Often includes replaced panels, welded frames

💡 Hidden danger: Some importers remove evidence and clean these cars up before selling.

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🛑 Grade RA or A

• Less severe than R

• Accident occurred, but no frame damage

• Light panel damage and replacement

• Still technically a “repaired car”

💡 Can be okay if the repairs were done professionally — but inspect carefully

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🚫 Grade ***

• Too damaged to be properly graded

• Often fire-damaged, flooded, or stolen-recovered cars

💡 Avoid completely unless for parts or scrap use

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🧾 Understanding the Full Auction Sheet

Besides the grade, the auction sheet includes:

🟢 Mileage

• Must match odometer

• Look for "odo tampering" notes (走行距離不明)

🟢 Interior Grade (A, B, C, D)

Grade	Meaning
A	Like new interior
B	Clean with minor wear
C	Moderate wear/stains
D	Heavy use, possible cigarette smell, torn upholstery

🟢 Condition Diagram

Letters used:

• A1–A3: Scratches (A3 = deep)

• U1–U3: Dents (U3 = large)

• W1–W3: Waves/repair marks

• S1–S3: Rust spots

• XX: Replaced parts

Example:

• If the hood has an XX → replaced due to crash

• A door with W2 → previously repaired and repainted

💡 Ask your importer to translate or use online tools like carused.jp or carvx.jp

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🛑 Warning: Fake Auction Sheets in Kenya

Yes, some shady importers:

• Photoshop auction sheets

• Remove the accident grade

• Only show you partial documents

Always verify the sheet with:

• CarVX.jp – uses chassis number

• Code & Clutch Assistant (WhatsApp us 0717423659)

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💵 How Auction Grade Affects Price in Kenya

Grade	Impact on Price
4.5 or 5	15–30% more expensive
4	Balanced value
3.5	Cheaper by KES 100K–200K
R / RA	Can be 30–40% cheaper
3 or less	Bargain bin — often for local repairs or garage resale

Importers often buy Grade R units, fix them up in Kenya, and sell as “clean” cars.

That’s why you must demand the full auction sheet — it protects your investment.

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🏁 Final Thoughts

Understanding Japanese auction grades is non-negotiable if you’re importing a car to Kenya.

Don’t fall for shiny dashboards and low odometer readings alone.
Follow the auction grade and sheet — it tells the whole story.

✅ Quick Checklist Before You Import:

• Always ask for the original auction sheet

• Learn to decode auction symbols

• Avoid Grade R unless you’re ready for risks

• Use CarVX.jp or a trusted assistant to verify

• Choose Grade 4 or 4.5 for long-term value

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🖼️ Image Suggestions for This Article

1. Sample auction sheet with grade 4.5 highlighted

2. Condition diagram with symbols (A1, U2, W2)

3. Comparison photo: Grade 5 vs Grade 3 interior

4. Side-by-side price comparison of Grade 4 vs Grade R

5. Fake vs real auction sheet example

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📲 Need Help Interpreting a Car's Auction Sheet?

Send your chassis number to our WhatsApp line:
📞 0717423659

We'll verify it for you free of charge and help you decide if the deal is legit.