Auction Report Guide

What is a Japanese Car Auction Report?

All pre-used vehicles in Japan go through a thorough inspection before they reach the auction. A professional inspector hired by the auction house records the vehicle's condition on the auction sheet you see here.

The sheet is filled in after a full mechanical check. Interior and exterior parts are each rated against a fixed standard, and the inspector adds written notes plus an overall condition grade.

2Production Month & Year

The real production month and year let buyers work out the vehicle's exact age. Japanese years count from the years the current Emperor has reigned. The month also matters because import duty often depends on the registration month.

10Auction Grade

The auction grade is the overall rating of the vehicle's condition. "S" is brand new, "R" means repaired, and "XX" is a damaged car. Numeric grades also apply — as a rule, the lower the number, the lower the quality.

11Interior & Exterior Grade

The inspector grades interior and exterior separately to show overall quality. The exterior rating sits on the left of the box, the interior rating on the right. A is the highest grade for both.

16Transmission / Shift

Most Japanese cars are automatic, so you'll usually see AT. Manual shows as MT. If you see anything other than AT or MT, check with your supplier — there are several ways inspectors write the transmission.

27Accessories / System

This information is in Japanese. On a digital report, Google Translate decodes it well. You'll find the car's key features here — PS = power steering, PW = power windows, SR = sunroof.

32Body Condition Detail

The car diagram gives a clear overview of the body — dents, scratches and flaws. Each flaw is marked with a letter-and-number code that maps to a defect type and severity.