What is Japanese Used Vehicle Grading system?

An important part in preparation of the inspection sheet for Japan used vehicles is grading. Inspection sheets are prepared by auction halls which give minute details about the vehicle. It determines the state of the vehicle, which helps buyers to make the correct decision.

The Grading system, in order to help buyers to buy the correct vehicle without physically inspecting the vehicle, contains almost accurate details regarding the vehicle.

On the basis of this, overseas buyers or importers buy vehicles with complete faith and assurance. Grading describes the quality of the used cars and its usage. It allows buyers to decide how much the same used vehicle will cost in the market or how long the same vehicle will now run further. These grading are always been done under very strict and standard way, so that importers can trust these grading and order them if it meets their requirements.

Panal Colours:

These car have P marked on the auction sheet, panals will be different colours, it generally occurs when plastic bumpers are painted the same colour as the body. It doesn’t happen so often on cars with metalic paint.

Grade with Specifications:

Below are the grades with their specification, which can help importers to understand the condition of the used vehicle they are buying:

Grades about Rust & Panel:

GRADE	RUST & PANEL
S1	There is some slight rust, no bigger than the palm of your hand.
S2	There is some rust, a little bigger than S1.
S3	There is some rust that will need to be repaired.
XX	This shows that a panal has been changed.
X	This shows that a panal will need to be replaced.

Grading with Descriptions:

GRADE	DESCRIPTION
S	First registration is within the last 1 year and almost equivalent to New car
6	Excellent Condition and no repair work needed (mileage below 30,000km)
5	Excellent Condition and no repair work needed (mileage below 60,000km)
4.5	Good Condition and repair work is maybe unnecessary
4	Reasonably good condition but little repair work maybe needed
3.5	Some repair work needed or slightly higher mileage than average
3	Many repair work needed or high mileage
2	Condition is bad
1	Modified, Debased or Affected Car (Submergence, damaged from salt, hailstorm etc.)
R	Accidented and repaired car
RA	Higher Graded Accidented and Repaired car
R1	Complex grading of the above “R” and “1”
RA1	Complex grading of the above “RA” and “1”: accidented and not repaired car, cars for parts recycle use, non-driveable car.

Exterior Grade:

GRADE	INTERIOR CONDITION
A	A car which is in very good condition.
B	A car which may have some scratches or dents the sizes could be from 5 cm to 15 cm. • A car which may have been repaired and there is a slight wave. • A car which may have some chips in the glass.
C	A car which may have some scratches, about 15 to 30 cm in size. • A car which may have some dents the size is a fist or larger. • A car which may have been repaired and there may be a slight wave.
D	A car which may have a lot of scratches. • A car which may have some dents. • A car which may have dents or scratches which require a panal to be changed. • A car which may have been repaired but needs a panal to be re-repared. • A car which may have a lot of rusts or some erosions.
E	A car which needs a complete paint job. • A car which has a lot of erosions.

Interior Grade:

GRADE	INTERIOR CONDITION
A	A car which is in very good condition. • It may have a few small blemishes
B	A car which is in good condition. • It may have some blemishes or small screw holes in the dash. • It may have a few cigarrete burns. • It may be a little dirty, but would clean up with a wash.
C	A car which is in average condition. • It will have some cigarete burns, the seats will have some wear or tears, there may be some screw holesin the dashboard or small fine cracks. • It will be a little dirty but if it is cleaned, it becomes a grade B.
D	A car which is lower than average condition. • It will have a lot of burns, and tears that will need repair. • There may be some warping in the dashboard. • It will have stains that won’t clean up.
E	A car which bad condition. • It will have some cracks or gaps in the dash. • The interior or seats will have many stains and some sagging in the seats. • The interior may smell bad.

Condition Details:

GRADE	CONDITION
A1	Very light scratch
A2	Light to moderate scratch
A3	Deep scratch
U1	Very slight dent
U2	Small dent
U3	Large dent
B	Dents need to be repaired
P	Needs repainting

GRADE	CONDITION
Y1	Small Crack
Y2	Big crack
BP	Dents and paint repair required
W1	Very light wave on panel
W2	Small wave on panel
W3	Large wave on panel
C	Corrosion
G	Stone chip

Dent with Scratches:

GRADE	CONDITION
B1	(USS U1+A1)
B2	(USS U2+A2)
B3	(USS U3+A3)

Above given points are some of the things that one should consider while buying Japanese used vehicle. The Grading system is an easy way to get an idea about the condition of the vehicle, without which it became difficult for buyers to know about the condition of the vehicle.