How to Read an Auction Sheet — Grade 4.5 vs. R

How to read a car's real condition off a Japanese auction house evaluation sheet.

Overall Grade

S, 6, and 5 are near-new; 4.5 and 4 are good; 3.5 and 3 show clear wear; 2 and below are in poor condition.

R or RA means the car has an accident repair history. Even with a high grade number, an R makes it a different kind of car.

Marked A, B, or C to show interior condition. Even with a good exterior grade, a C interior means heavy wear inside.

A means scratch, U means dent, W means wavy panel (bodywork), S means rust, X means needs replacement, and XX means already replaced.

The number after it is the size. A1 and A4 are both scratches, but they feel very different in person.

Multiple XX marks mean the car has had significant work done, even with no explicit repair-history flag.

An auction sheet is one inspector's opinion — treat it as a reference, not an absolute standard.

For high-value cars, don't rely on the sheet alone — an on-site inspection is worth it.

Want the actual cost?

Enter the vehicle price and get the landed cost — duty, individual consumption tax, and certification fees included.