Japanese Car Auction Inspection Reports Demystified

 

 

Auctions for cars in Japan can be a fantastic opportunity for car importers from around the globe to find high quality, low mileage vehicles as well as other used vehicles for sale at a bargain price.

 

But, to get the most value from the opportunities Japanese auctions offer the car dealer, be sure to understand the inspection reports for cars. If you're a well-informed buyer you'll be able to sort through the gold to avoid costly errors.

 

In this article, we'll take a look at the people who create the auction sheet verification inspection reports and what's included inside the reports.

 

If you're thinking about purchasing cars through auctions for cars in Japan then you must be reading this article.

 

Quick primer What is the purpose of the aforementioned Japanese Car Auctions?

 

There are 86 auction sites in Japan. On a typical day, you can expect to include anything from around 7,000 to 40,000 used automobiles and other types of vehicles sold in these auctions across the nation.

 

A reputable Japanese exporter will grant his clients access to all auctions using an online system. It is possible to be just a few continents away from Japan yet you are able to you can sit in front of your computer and begin tapping into this vast collection from RHD and LHD automobiles immediately.

 

Make a bid with by clicking a button and let the exporter in Japan manage the rest. Within a few weeks, the car will be waiting at the port waiting for you to take it home.

 

Used Car Inspections at Japanese Car Auctions

 

Auctions for cars in Japan employ skilled mechanics who inspect the cars they offer. They work on the site of auctions in general as well as off-site at dealerships for cars in the situation of Aucnet.

 

The inspection at auction examines every aspect of the vehicle starting from the mechanical components and the chassis, all the way to interior and exterior conditions. The inspectors at auctions for cars are thorough in their inspection The only restriction being that they don't operate the vehicle at anything greater than the speed of a parking lot and they are unable to take the car apart to inspect difficult-to-access areas.

 

The Auction Inspector's Report

 

The inspector of the car auction writes their notes in the oushon hyo (auction sheet). He will employ a mixture of scoring methods, written descriptions and diagrams of the exterior of the car to give the buyer an accurate idea of the condition of the vehicle.

 

Overall Auction Grade

 

Auctions for cars in Japan give an overall grade to each car that are sold in the weekly auction.

 

I don't recommend that you solely rely on this score in deciding whether to bid. It is important to verify the other details that the inspector has recorded on the auction report in addition.

 

(A professional Japanese car exporter should be able to provide a an accurate translation of these particulars.)

 

However, the overall auction grade plays an important role in helping you narrow the pool of bid potential bidders. Here's a brief overview of the various grades:

 

Grades 7, 8, 9 , or S The grades are for new vehicles that have only delivery miles.

 

Grade 6 - - This can occasionally be comparable to grades before, however, cars that have this auction grade usually contain a bit more than the delivery miles.

 

Grad 5 - - These are cars in great condition, similar to brand new However, with a lot of miles on the clock.

 

Grade 4.5 Car in great condition, yet with as little as hundreds of thousands of miles to go.

 

Class 4: A great solid car, usually with less than 100,000 kilometers to its credit.

 

Grade 3.5 3.0 - A more efficient vehicle, or one that will require some attention to clean up.

 

Grade 3 - It could be an extremely high mileage vehicle or one that is typically rough.

 

Grade 2 - Extremely rough and rough vehicles, with corrosion holes as the reason for this grade.

 

Grade 1 - Usually , a highly modified car that has an engine or transmission that is different installed, or an extra turbocharger. Other options are used cars equipped with fire extinguishers or flood damaged.

 

Grading R, RA and and Grade 0 (zero) This is vehicles that have experienced the need for some type of accident repair. On one side of the scale , there may be a single piece of panel that was replaced because of an incident in the parking lot, and at the other, there are vehicles that have been involved in an accident, and have had nearly every panel replaced.

 

Ungraded cars - They are sold in a conditional auction without or nearly no information regarding their state of repair. This makes them extremely dangerous and could lead to escalating cost if they can't be moved or driven.

 

Certain grades are more popular than others. For instance Grade 3.5 and 4 used vehicles are likely to make up around 50% of any auction day, while there's just one or two cars in grade 1 that same day.

 

Interior and Exterior Grades

 

Japanese inspections at auctions use letters to mark both the inside and (sometimes) the exterior condition of the vehicle. They are also extremely broad terms, much as the auction's overall grade, and it's essential to study the specifics of the comments made by the inspectors for a complete image of the state of the car.

 

In essence, "B" is considered "average condition, considering the age and mileage of the car". Therefore, an interior grade with "A" means that the interior is above average however if it's "C" then it is below the average.

 

The "Car Map"

 

This is a sketch showing the front of the vehicle it is typically found in the lower right corner on the sheet of auction.

 

An auctioneer will note it by using a combination of letters and numbers, to indicate damage to the exterior or the inside of the automobile.

 

Here are some fundamental terms:

 

A = scratch

 

U = dent

 

S means Rust (from S = rust (from the Japanese term sabi)

 

C = corrosion

 

W is an unevenness of the panel (usually caused by beating the panel)

 

They are often followed by numbers to indicate the degree of severity. Thus "1" is the least serious, while "4" is the most grave. In reality it is the case that people in the Japanese are so strict about such things that something as "A1", which means the smallst scratch, is invisible to the naked eye.

 

Japanese Car Auction Inspectors' Comments

 

In addition to the previous inspection, the inspector will also make comments on the vehicle as he examines it. Naturally, the more prestigious the vehicle is more likely it will have additional information about it. Thus, a car that is grade 3 will be more likely to have a lot of comments than a car of grade 5.

 

There are exceptions to this. One of them could be vehicles that are fitted with numerous modifications and parts from the aftermarket which the inspector lists in the bid sheet.

 

While it might appear to be that overall grades, exterior and interior grades as well as the map of your car provide enough details to make a bid, I would strongly suggest buyers to make sure they have these remarks professionally translated before making the decision to place a bid.

 

A grade 5 or more vehicle is unlikely to be a surprise However, with anything less that there is a chance an inspector may have made a note that might determine whether you should take a chance with your offer or not. This is why it's crucial to find an Japanese car exporter that offers high-quality, professional translations of auction sheets.

 

Concluding Remarks

 

Auctions for cars in Japan provide a wide selection of used vehicles available for sale at reasonable prices. the auction inspection process ensures that you will obtain a thorough image of the condition of any car before you bid.

 

Although it might seem overwhelming to purchase used vehicles from across the globe However, these Japanese report on inspections at auctions can make finding quality vehicles much simpler and more secure.

 

About the Expert Author

 

Stephen Munday has 12 years work and living experience in Japan with a focus on 5 years purchasing from auctions of cars in Japan for clients across the globe. The company he runs, Integrity Exports, was established with the aim of making purchasing from Japanese auctions for cars a relaxing and easy experience.