What is a Japanese auction grade?

What is a Japanese auction grade?

The overall grade is the single most important number on a Japanese auction sheet. It’s assigned by an independent inspector at the auction house and summarises the vehicle’s overall condition on a numerical-plus-letter scale.

The grade scale

Grade	Meaning
S	Brand new, under 100 km, factory plastic still on
6	Like-new, very low mileage, no defects
5	Excellent, minor wear
4.5	Well-kept, light wear consistent with age
4	Typical used condition, minor scratches and dings
3.5	Visible wear; some panels may need work
3	Needs restoration; multiple defects
2	Heavy damage or corrosion
1	Flood, fire or major mechanical issue
R / RA	Accident-repaired (frame straightened or replaced panels)
0	Not graded; major undeclared damage history

What to target as a Sri Lankan buyer

For a typical first import to Sri Lanka, target grade 4 or higher. Grade 3.5 is acceptable if the sheet shows the issues are cosmetic only. Anything R, RA, 0, 1 or 2 is generally a no for personal use — these are best left to traders who specialize in repairs.

The overall grade sits alongside two letter grades — one for exterior (A–E) and one for interior (A–E). A car can have a high overall grade with a B or C interior; check both before committing.

Where to read the grade on the sheet

The overall grade is printed top-right on the auction sheet. The interior and exterior letter grades sit just below. The full position-by-position decoder is in our auction sheet guide.