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Japanese Import Car Check NZ — Auction Sheet & Grade Guide

Buying a used Japanese import? Learn to read the auction grade and sheet — including what grade R/RA (repaired accident) means. We do not hold Japanese auction data; our VIN check adds worldwide recalls, theft records and decoded specs.

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Japanese import car check NZ — how to read the auction sheet and grade before you buy

This is an educational guide for New Zealand buyers of used Japanese imports: how to read the auction grade and auction sheet, including what grade R/RA (repaired accident) means. Carlytics does not hold Japanese auction data and cannot retrieve auction sheets. What our VIN check genuinely adds is a decoded factory specification, worldwide safety-recall records and an international stolen-vehicle check. Full reports NZ$15.90, one-time payment.

Read this first — what this page is and isn't. This page is a guide, not a lookup. Carlytics does not hold Japanese auction data and cannot retrieve the auction sheet, grade or inspection map for any specific car — those records belong to the Japanese auction houses and the exporter. Do not expect a Japanese-market lookup from us. What our VIN check genuinely provides is a decoded factory specification, worldwide safety-recall records and an international stolen-vehicle check, all from a 17-character VIN. To see the auction sheet itself, request it from the importer or dealer who sold the car.

How Japanese Auction Grades Work

At a Japanese vehicle auction, an inspector assigns each car an overall grade — commonly from around 5 (excellent) down through 4.5, 4, 3.5, 3 and lower — with the interior graded separately by letter (A to D). The overall grade is a quick summary of condition, but the letters matter most: a grade of R or RA marks a repaired accident car, meaning it has had accident damage repaired. Codes such as 0, * or special notations flag other conditions. A grade is a headline, not the full story — treat a high number as encouraging and a low number or an R/RA as a reason to look harder.

Reading the Auction Sheet

The auction sheet is the inspector's report. It carries the overall grade, separate interior and exterior grades, the mileage at the time of auction, the year and chassis code, and a condition diagram — the “map” — where standard symbols mark scratches, dents, rust and repaired panels. Much of it is written in Japanese, so a translation helps. Pay particular attention to the mileage figure: it is the reading at the point the car left Japan, and comparing it to today's odometer is one of the best defences against a wound-back import.

What Our VIN Check Genuinely Adds

To be completely clear: we do not reproduce the auction sheet or grade. What a Carlytics VIN check adds is a separate and genuinely useful layer. From the 17-character VIN it decodes the exact make, model, model year and engine — confirming the car is what the listing claims — cross-references worldwide safety-recall records for that vehicle, and checks international stolen-vehicle databases. None of that is on an auction sheet, and none of the auction sheet is in our report. Used together, they cover different risks.

Putting It Together Before You Buy

A sensible order for buying a used Japanese import in New Zealand: ask the importer for the auction sheet and read the grade and condition map; run the VIN check to confirm the specification and surface any recalls or theft flags; and cross-check the auction mileage against the current odometer and the Warrant of Fitness readings over time. A clean grade, a clear VIN check and mileage that lines up is a strong position. An R/RA grade you weren't told about, a missing auction sheet, or a recall or theft flag is your signal to slow down.

What we check for when preparing a report

Carlytics is the largest online database of used vehicle records. It contains more than a billion data points from all over the world.

Damage

Damage

We check if the car has been in any accidents or had serious repairs. Damage can lower the car's value and cause safety problems. Our report helps you avoid cars with hidden damage that sellers might not tell you about.

Mileage rollbacks

Mileage rollbacks

We look for signs that the mileage might have been changed. Some sellers lower the mileage to make the car look newer. We check mileage records from different databases to make sure the numbers are honest.

Specs & equipment

Specs & equipment

We list the car's original features and equipment. This helps you see if anything is missing or changed. You'll know exactly what the car should have when it left the factory.

Safety

Safety

Manufacturers typically issue safety recalls to fix harmful defects. Make sure your car doesn't have any before taking it on the road and also learn its general safety rating.

Natural disaster

Natural disaster

Check if the vehicle has been damaged in floods, hurricanes, or other natural disasters.

Stolen car database

Stolen car database

We check police and insurance records to see if the car has been reported stolen. Buying a stolen car can lead to big legal and financial problems. Our report gives you peace of mind.

Photos

Photos

If available, we include old photos or auction pictures of the car. <br />These photos can show past damage, repairs, or changes that you might not notice in person.

Market value

Market value

We compare prices from many sources to show the car's fair market value.<br />This helps you know if the price is good or too high, so you can make a smart deal.

Trusted in 47+ countries worldwide

Carlytics aggregates vehicle data from 47+ European countries, pulling from national registries like Finnish Traficom (5M vehicles), Dutch RDW, Czech ISTP, and Danish DMR. Combined with NHTSA, EU Safety Gate recalls, and 348,000+ real listings, the database covers 900M+ vehicles.

Access data from national registries,
insurance databases, law enforcement and more.

Trusted Worldwide

Why Run a VIN Check Before Buying a Used Car?

An estimated 30-50% of used cars sold cross-border in Europe have tampered mileage. Carlytics catches odometer rollbacks, undisclosed accident damage, stolen-vehicle flags, and open safety recalls by scanning 900M+ records across 47+ countries -- all from a single 17-character VIN, starting free.

Don't risk thousands on a used car with hidden problems. A free VIN check takes seconds and can save you from costly surprises.

Detect Odometer Fraud

An estimated 30-50% of used cars in Europe have tampered mileage. A VIN history check reveals odometer rollback and mileage discrepancies that sellers try to hide.

Uncover Hidden Accident Damage

Structural damage from past accidents may not be visible during a physical inspection. A vehicle history report shows collision records the seller may not disclose.

Verify Stolen Vehicle Status

Over 600,000 vehicles are stolen in the EU each year, many resold across borders. Our stolen car database check confirms the vehicle is legally clear before you buy.

Check Cross-Border Import History

Vehicles imported from abroad may have different specs, undisclosed damage, or missing service records. Trace the full registration and import history with a VIN check.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can Carlytics pull the Japanese auction sheet for my import?
No — and this is the single most important thing to understand on this page. Carlytics does not hold Japanese auction data, and we cannot retrieve the auction sheet, grade or inspector's map for a specific car. Auction records sit with the Japanese auction houses and the exporter who bought the car. This page is a guide to reading those documents yourself; the auction sheet itself must come from the importer or dealer who sold the car.
What is an auction grade, and what does grade R or RA mean?
Japanese auction houses assign an overall grade to each car, typically on a scale from about 5 (excellent) down through 4, 3.5, 3 and lower, with the interior separately graded by letter. The letters R and RA are the ones to watch: they denote a repaired accident car — the vehicle has had accident damage repaired. Grades like 0, *, or 'A' can flag other special conditions. A grade is a shorthand summary; always read it alongside the inspector's condition map, not instead of it.
What is on an auction sheet?
An auction sheet records the auction house's inspection: the overall grade, separate interior and exterior grades, the mileage at the time of auction, the year and chassis code, and a condition diagram (the 'map') marking scratches, dents, rust and repaired panels with standard symbols. Much of it is in Japanese, so many buyers use a translation. The mileage on the sheet is especially valuable — it is the reading at the point the car left Japan, which you can compare against what the odometer shows today.
So what does the Carlytics VIN check actually add?
Our check works from the 17-character VIN and adds a genuinely different layer: it decodes the exact factory specification, cross-references worldwide safety-recall records for that make and model, and checks international stolen-vehicle databases. It does not — and cannot — reproduce the Japanese auction sheet or grade. Think of it as the risk-and-specification check that complements the auction documentation, not a substitute for it.
How do I use the auction sheet and a VIN check together?
Use each for what it does best. The auction sheet tells you the car's condition and grade at export and its Japanese mileage. The VIN check confirms the true specification, surfaces any worldwide recalls, and runs the theft check. Read them side by side: a clean auction grade plus a clear VIN check is reassuring; an 'R/RA' grade, a mileage mismatch, or a recall or theft flag is your cue to dig deeper or walk away.
Where do I get the auction sheet if the dealer doesn't have it?
Ask the importer or dealer first — reputable ones keep the auction sheet on file and share it. If they can't produce it, the auction record can sometimes be retrieved by chassis number through specialist auction-history services in Japan (which are separate from Carlytics). Treat a total inability to produce or locate any auction record as a warning sign about the car's history.
How much is the VIN check, and what do I get?
NZ$15.90 for the full VIN report — one-time, no subscription — covering decoded specification, worldwide safety recalls and the stolen-vehicle check. The free VIN check for basic specs and active recalls is always available. Reading the auction sheet and grade is something this guide teaches you to do; the VIN check is the separate, complementary layer we actually provide.