The essential part of buying a car in Japan is correct reading and comprehension of vehicle's auction sheet or chart. Auction sheet itself is a detailed chart that comprises main characteristiscs of the vehicle, exterior, interior condition and mechanical issues if there are any.Here is the list of main characteristiscs of the vehicle:
- Exhibition lot number
- Auction grading of the car
- Chassis number
- Engine capacity
- Registration year
- Current mileage
- Body color and color code
- Fuel type [Gasoline, diesel, CNG , PNG,LPG]
- Local dealers’ vehicle or privately imported car
- Transmission type
- Equipped options
- Model code
- Sales points
- Number of passengers [ based on the documents]
- Type of air condition
- Vehicle dimension [Width/Length/Height]
- Inspectors independent report
- Payload capacity [Truck, pick up, van ]
- Previous type of ownership [ private, rental, business ]
- Tire condition
- Recycle fee
All Vehicles that are offered at Auto-auctions have independent inspector’s report with comments, summarized in auction chart or sheet, please see the sample. This the most important stage in selecting the right vehicle and avoiding unexpected costs due to the mis-understanding of abbreviations. The understanding of auction grading will make your car selection smoother and more effective. Before selecting vehicle of your choice please kindly study the structure of the auction sheet and location of the main idicators and signs.
GRADING ABBRIVATIONS AND EXPLANATIONS
OVERAL EXTERIOR GRADE
GRADE-S The car is on sales within 12 months from first registration date. Mileage is less than 10,000km. Condition is excellent.GRADE-6 The vehicle is within 36 months period from first registration date and has maximum 30.000 km mileage. Almost brand new condition.
GRADE-5 The vehicles had some minor scratches and tiny dents. Maximum mileage is 50.000 km. Exterior and interior are in very neat condition.
GRADE-4.5 The vehicle`s mileage does not excess 100.000 km. is under 100,000km. This grade as well is highly graded one. Exterior and interior condition do not require any extra maintenance or cleaning.
GRADE-4 Vehicles with maximum mileage of 150,000km.The exterior might have some scratches and tiny dents. Interior is usually clean, but some of the cars might need cleaning and fixing of small torn areas or cigarette burn marks. In general, the vehicle might need minor repair.
GRADE-3.5 This grade is an average condition car, with noticeable scratches and dents. It might require later panel work or panting. Inside might have stains and cigarette burn holes, which may require some repair.
GRADE-3 The grade requires very careful look, as it usually has many visible scratches, paint blemishes, and/or large dents. It requires major panel and/or paintwork. Interior might have multiple stains or cigarette wholes. GRADE-2 Very bad condition, major dents and scratches, chassis or core support have severe corrosion or whole. GRADE-1 Accident-Salage vehicle needs complete fixing, has major technical problem.
GRADE-R/RA/O These grades grade depend on Auction house own grading system, please contact for clarification .In general R stands for repair,exterior is in average condition after repair had been done.
GRADE-***/-/0/無効 These cars displayed as they are, NOT inspected cars, sold as they are 0*Depending on the auction hall, grade O might be fixed car or not graded car, please contact for clarification.
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EXTERIOR INDICATORS
AW – alloy wheels CP – wheel covers Aero – aero parts 3D/5D – door count HR – High roof HID – High-intensity discharge lamps/ RS – Rear spoiler -
SCRATCH SIGNS
A1 –Thumb Size Hardly Visible A2-Palm size scratch on paint А4 Scratches more than 20 см А5 Scratches that need to be painted This line show the exact scratch location -
DENTS
B1/B2/B3 – Dent with a scratch E1- barely visible dent E2- few dents barely visible E3- many visible dents U1- Pin dents U2- dent visible U3- 2 Palm size dent -
TORN AREAS SIGNS
Y1- A tear which is the size of a thumb. Y2- A tear which is the size of a palm. Y3- A tear which is more than size Y2. -
RUST
S1, S2, S3- Rust from weak to sever C1,C2,C3 –Corrosion from weak, small to severe with corrosion with a whole sign 穴 -
WAVY AREAS SIGNS
W1- A panel which has been repaired slightly, and is in good condition. W2- A panel which has been repaired slightly, and has a slightly wave. W3- A panel which has been repaired and has a conspicuous wave. P or H– Paint faded , M repair marked -
REPLACEMENT SIGNS
X -A panel which needs to be replaced. !- Tender-Lease auctions use this sign for replaced parts! XX-A panel which has been replaced. -
CRACK
X1/ H1/G- small stone chip on the front window up 1 cm) R -crack on front glass stone chip/crack has been fixed RX-crack in front glass /needs replacement -
INTERIOR GRADE
GRADE A – Very clean condition without stains, burnt areas or scratches
GRADE B – Clean condition, the previous owner take a good car of the car interior
GRADE C – Interior need some cleaning, tiny stains might have some cigarette burnt holes
GRADE D – The interior is not clean, must be cleaned and restored ,might have some holes or cut areas GRADE E – This grade needs complete interior restoration -
INTERIOR indicators
PS – Power steering PW – Power window AAC /AC/–Automatic or none-automatic air conditioning AB, SRS, WAB –Airbag types AT, FA, FAT, IAT, CA, CAT, CVT, ICVT- Automatic transmissions MT, F5, 5C, 5SPD/6F/6 – Manual transmission NAVI, GPS – Navigation system ST/CD / MD /TV- Music and video equipment 革, レザー, カワ,LS – Leather seats SR, サンルーフ –Sunroof -
TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION
LPG, CNG, LNG– Gas fuel types ABS – Anti-lock braking system AFS – Adaptive Front light System LSD -Limited slip differential EVC – Electric Vehicle Car TRC, TCS -Traction Control System (TRC) 2WD/4WD – Drivetrain type, two/four wheel drive -
SPECIAL INDICATORS
$ or *,# -these signs represent the changed mileage, that is tempered odometer or odometer change 改 -( kai mark’) – This sign represents modification done by previous owners, for example: Performance cars -To add additional horsepower, multiple aftermarket parts, extra equipment and engine modifications - After-market suspension, seats, steering wheel etc. - Mission modification, the original AT mission converted to manual transmission. Passenger cars, Vans, Trucks - Previous owner, has converted fuel from gasoline to LPG or CNG gas - Removal of seats and installment of special purpose equipment such as ambulance or camping car. -
JAPANESE 平成CALENDAR CONVERSION
In Japan, the registration year is indicated in all documents, NOT actual Manufacture date /MFDT/. Please pay attention, the registration date might differ from actual Manufacture/MFDT/ date on the belt. Japanese year calculation— 2014 is year 26 of the Heisei (平成) era, from 8 January 1989 to the present. Please pay great attention to the registration and actual manufacture date when calculating your import tariffs and local registration fees. -
AUTO AUCTIONS TYPES
There are three types of wholesale auto auctions in Japan: LIVE Auto auctions-Real-time live bidding with progressive price increase by multiple participants ONLINE. The session is hold in auction halls, where you can personally visit or bid online from your computer. When the price does not reach seller's lowest target price,then it becomes an unsold car. These cars can be re-negotiated with an auction house during trading session by phone. TENDER or Lease auctions-The bidding process is very similar to vote counting system.The bidding take place up to a certain deadline usually midday Japanese time. The offered bids are all final and cannot be changed after the indicated deadline.The auction house later chooses the single highest bid.The negotiation for unsold car is not possible. FIXED or Oneprice auctions-This type of auctions has good choice of cars -that are offered at decided price and can be bought by single click. They are also popular among local dealers with detailed photos and convenient time to buy.
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Calculate Car Size
small hatch back is around 8 m3, average sedan is 12 m3, large sedan is 14 m3, SUV and Vans are around 16 m3.
| FOB | Goods Price + Inland Delivery Expense + Shipping ExpenseOcean Freight excluded. Please pay the ocean freight directly to shipping company at the time of shipment arrival in your destination port. |
| C&F | FOB + Ocean Freight |
| CIF | FOB + Insurance + Ocean Freight |
| C&I | FOB + Insurance (Ocean Freight Collect) |
| Only Goods Price | If you are based in Japan, you are subject to applicable taxes. |
| Goods Price&Delivery | If you wish to arrange delivery by yourself or outsource to a shipping agent. InshaTrading will deliver to the location you specify. |
| CY | "CY/CY" term stands for "container yard to container yard" in international shipping. Which means that the carrier accepts the goods at the container yard located within the port of lading and delivers them to a container yard located within the port of discharge. |
| CFS | "CFS" Term Stands for "container freight station" CFS is the designated facility at which a shipping company accepts and stores small lot cargoes, assorts and consolidates cargo into containers by destination, and also devans small-lot consolidated cargo out of the containers for sorting and delivery to consignees. When receiving or delivering small-lot consolidated cargo at a CFS, the shipping company imposes a CFS charge, separate from the freight rate,to cover various costs incurred in handling cargo at the CFS |