Guides
Understanding Japanese Auction Sheets
April 20, 2026 7 min read
Grade 4, R-mark, A1, B2 — what every code on a Japanese auction sheet really means.
Every used car sold at Japanese auctions comes with an auction sheet — a hand-marked inspection report by the auction house inspector.
Overall grade - **S / 6**: New, under 10,000 km - **5**: Excellent - **4.5 / 4**: Very good, minor wear - **3.5 / 3**: Average, some damage - **2 / 1**: Heavy damage or modified - **R / RA**: Repaired (accident history) - *****: Not graded
Interior grade (A–D) A = excellent, B = small marks, C = noticeable wear, D = damage.
Exterior map codes - A1, A2, A3 = small scratch (size) - U1, U2 = small dent - W1, W2 = repaired panel - X = panel needs replacement - XX = already replaced
A grade 4 car with a B interior is a safe buy. Anything graded R should be inspected carefully — many are minor bumper repairs, but some are structural.