Buying guide

Japanese auction grades explained

Every car sold at a Japanese auction is inspected and graded by an independent assessor. Understanding the scale is the single most useful thing a buyer of graded auction stock can learn.

Browse graded stock

Auction grades at a glance

S / 6: New or as-new, usually under a year old with delivery mileage.
5: Exceptional condition for its age, very low mileage, almost no marks.
4.5: Excellent. Very light wear only, typically low mileage.
4: Good, well-kept car with small scratches or dents that are easy to put right. The sweet spot for UK buyers.
3.5: Average. Visible scratches, dents or wear, or higher mileage. A 3.5 grade car is honest but needs some cosmetic work.
3: Below average. Noticeable cosmetic damage or heavy wear; bought selectively.
2 / 1: Poor condition, heavily modified or flood/fire affected. We don't sell these.
R / RA: Recorded accident repair. RA means minor repair; R means more significant panel or structural work.

What does a 3.5 grade car mean?

A grade 3.5 car is a sound, average example with visible cosmetic marks — scratches, small dents or worn interior trim — or mileage that is higher than usual for its age. It is not an accident-damaged car; those are graded R or RA.

Grade 3.5 cars can be good value if the marks are cosmetic and priced in. We check every mark on the sheet map and state on the listing what has been repaired before sale.

Grade 4 vs 4.5

Both are well-kept cars. A 4.5 has only very light wear and usually low mileage; a 4 may have a few small marks that are easy to correct. Most of our stock sits in the 4 to 4.5 range.

Interior grades A to D

A separate letter grade covers the cabin. A is close to unmarked; B shows light wear; C indicates noticeable wear, staining or burns; D is poor. We publish both grades on every import listing.

Reading the auction sheet map

The diagram marks each defect with a code: A for scratches, U for dents, W for repaired or wavy panels, X for panels needing replacement, and a number from 1 to 4 for severity (A1 is a tiny scratch, A3 a large one). We translate every mark before you commit.

What is graded auction stock?

Graded auction stock means cars bought at Japanese auction with an independent inspection grade and sheet. Unlike many UK used cars, you can see the assessor's findings before you buy — combined with our mileage verification, it is one of the most transparent ways to buy a used car.