How to Decode a Japanese Auction Sheet: A Kenyan Buyer's Guide

If you've ever bought or considered buying a Japanese import in Kenya, you've probably heard about the "auction sheet." Dealers reference it constantly. Some show it as proof of quality. Others hope you won't ask to see it.

Understanding auction sheets is one of the highest-leverage skills any Kenyan car buyer can develop. Here's everything you need to know.

What Is a Japanese Auction Sheet?

When a vehicle is entered into a Japanese used-car auction: through houses like USS, TAA, HAA, or JU Group, a trained inspector examines every aspect of the vehicle before it goes under the hammer. The findings are recorded on a standardised form called the auction inspection sheet (落札シート, rakusatsu shiito).

This document contains:

• The overall exterior condition grade
• The interior condition grade
• A diagram of the vehicle body marking the exact location and severity of any damage
• The odometer reading at the time of inspection
• Engine, transmission, and equipment notes
• The auction date and lot number

The sheet is the closest thing to an independent pre-purchase inspection the vehicle will ever receive: and it was produced before the car was exported, when the condition was objectively assessed.

The Overall Grade Scale

The exterior condition is graded on a scale from S (highest) to below 2 (not suitable for import):

| Grade | Meaning |

|-------|---------|

| S | Showroom condition: virtually new, very low kilometres |

| 6 | Excellent, like new with negligible wear |

| 5 | Very good, minor marks invisible without close inspection |

| 4.5 | Good-plus, small surface scratches or minor marks |

| 4 | Good, normal wear for the age; most desirable imports are Grade 4 |

| 3.5 | Fair: noticeable wear, small dents or stains |

| 3 | Average, significant cosmetic issues requiring attention |

| 2 | Below average, heavy damage or wear |

For Kenyan buyers, Grade 4 and above is the recommended minimum. Grade 3.5 vehicles are acceptable if the price reflects their condition. Anything below 3 is typically not worth importing unless you're planning a restoration.

Interior Grade

Interior condition is graded separately on a letter scale:

| Grade | Meaning |

|-------|---------|

| A | Clean, virtually no wear |

| B | Light wear, minor scuffs or small stains |

| C | Noticeable wear: stains, tears, or fading |

| D | Heavy wear, significant damage requiring restoration |

A common vehicle might be graded 4B: good exterior, light interior wear. A high-grade import might be 5A.

Special Grades: R, RA, and the ★ Mark

These are the grades that Kenyan buyers most often misunderstand:

• R: The vehicle had accident damage that was professionally repaired. The repair quality was assessed as satisfactory. Grade R does not necessarily mean the car is bad, it means it was fixed and the fix was accepted by the inspector.
• RA: The vehicle has accident damage that was NOT repaired, or the repair quality was deemed poor. An RA vehicle has unresolved structural or cosmetic damage. Avoid unless you are specifically prepared for restoration costs.
• ★ (Star): The vehicle was temporarily withdrawn from auction for additional inspection, usually because of a discrepancy or question about the condition.

Many Kenyan dealers import Grade R vehicles and sell them without disclosing the accident history. This is where buyers who don't know to ask get caught.

Reading the Damage Diagram

The auction sheet includes a bird's-eye outline of the vehicle. Damage is marked on this diagram using standardised codes:

• A: Scratch
• U: Dent
• W: Wave/crease in panel
• C: Crack or rust
• X: Panel requires replacement
• XX: Panel is severely damaged

The size of the mark (small letter = minor, large letter = significant) and location on the diagram tell you exactly where to look when inspecting the physical vehicle.

Why Auction Grades Matter for Pricing

Grade significantly impacts market value. In Nairobi's used car market:

• A Grade 5 Toyota Aqua will sell for KES 100,000–200,000 more than an identical Grade 3.5 model of the same year
• An RA-graded vehicle should be priced 20–35% below an equivalent Grade 4

When a dealer cannot produce the auction sheet, or the grade doesn't match the vehicle's condition, that's a significant red flag.

How CarTrust Retrieves Your Auction Sheet Data

You don't need to be a Japanese-auction expert to protect yourself. When you run a CarTrust report, we automatically retrieve the auction sheet data using the chassis number: including the original grade, mileage at export, and any damage notations.

This means you can compare:

• The auction sheet mileage vs. the current odometer
• The auction grade vs. the physical condition the seller is claiming
• Any damage noted at export vs. the "no accident" claim being made

It takes under two minutes and costs less than a tank of fuel.

Run your CarTrust check before you meet the seller. The auction sheet doesn't lie, and now you can read it.