What Does the Grade on a Japan Auction Sheet Mean in Sri Lanka?

Key facts

• Japan auction sheets grade a car's overall condition on a scale that runs roughly S, 6, 5, 4.5, 4, 3.5, 3, 2, 1, then R and RA for accident-repaired cars.
• The number covers the body and mechanicals; a separate letter grade (A to E) covers the interior only — the two are not the same thing.
• R and RA mean the car has had structural accident repair (frame, pillar, or load-bearing rail work). RA is usually a lighter version of R.
• A small diagram of the car's body with marks and numbers shows exactly where dents, scratches, rust, or repairs were found.
• The grade is a quick snapshot by one inspector on one day — it is not a full mechanical check, and it won't tell you about hybrid battery health or a recent electrical fault.
• Sheets can be mismatched, cropped, or attached to the wrong car — always match the chassis number on the sheet to the number stamped on the vehicle.
• Sri Lanka separately requires its own pre-shipment roadworthiness inspection (commonly done by JAAI or QISJ) before Customs will clear a Japanese import, as noted by cardreams.lk.
• As of October 2026, personal vehicle imports are open again after the ban that ran for several years, but individual import limits and emission rules apply — check the current rules with Sri Lanka Customs or the DMT before you commit money, per motorguide.lk.

What is a Japan auction sheet, and why does it matter in Sri Lanka?

A Japan auction sheet is the inspection report an auctioneer writes up before a car is sold at a Japanese vehicle auction. A huge share of used cars on Sri Lankan roads were imported from Japan, and many sellers here — importers, agents, and private sellers who imported directly — keep the original sheet and show it to buyers as proof of condition. If you're buying a Japan-import car, this one piece of paper tells you more honest information than most sellers will volunteer themselves.

What do the numbers (S, 6, 5, 4.5, 4, 3.5, R, RA) actually mean?

The number is the inspector's overall condition score, and it roughly maps like this:

• S or 6 — as-new, very low mileage, essentially flawless.
• 5 — excellent condition, very light wear.
• 4.5 — minor cosmetic wear only, generally considered a safe, clean buy.
• 4 — normal wear for the mileage, small dings and scuffs, still a solid choice for most buyers.
• 3.5 and below — more visible wear, scratches, or small repairs; worth a closer look before you pay full price.
• R — the car has had structural accident repair: welding or replacement on a frame, pillar, or other load-bearing part.
• RA — a lighter version of R, often a single panel repaired without the same structural work, but treat it with the same caution.

Most buyers importing or buying an import for personal use should aim for grade 4 or 4.5. Grading standards do vary slightly between Japanese auction houses, so use the grade as a strong signal, not the final word.

What does the interior letter grade (A, B, C, D) tell you?

This is a separate score for the cabin: seats, dashboard, carpets, and smell. A is close to new, B is average wear for the mileage, and C or D means stains, cigarette burns, cracked trim, or a bad smell. A car can carry a good body grade like 4.5 with a poor interior grade like C — so read both numbers together. A 4.5-C car might need real money spent on the seats and dashboard before it's presentable to resell.

What is the diagram on the sheet, and should you read it?

Below the grade, most sheets show a simple outline of the car's body with small marks and letters scattered over the bonnet, doors, roof, and bumpers. Each mark points to a specific dent, scratch, rust spot, or repaired panel on that exact part of the car. If you can get help reading Japanese auction terms — many import agents in Sri Lanka will do this for you — this diagram tells you far more than the headline grade alone, because two cars with the same "4" can have very different damage spread across the body.

Should you buy a car graded R or RA?

Be careful. R and RA mean the car had accident damage serious enough to need structural repair, not just a bumper or panel swap. cardreams.lk notes that cars with this history can develop alignment, suspension, or water-leak problems later, and they resell for noticeably less because local buyers discount them on sight. R/RA vehicles are sometimes bought by traders because of the price gap, but for a vehicle you intend to drive and later sell yourself, the lower price rarely makes up for the uncertainty. If a seller shows you a sheet marked R or RA, treat it as a serious negotiating point, not a minor detail.

How do you check that the auction sheet is genuine and belongs to this exact car?

This is where buyers get caught out. A sheet can be copied, cropped to hide a bad section, or simply attached to the wrong vehicle by mistake or on purpose. Before you pay a deposit:

• Match the chassis number printed on the sheet to the chassis number stamped on the car itself (usually in the engine bay or under the bonnet) and on the CR book or import documents.
• Compare the mileage on the sheet to the odometer and service book, if one exists.
• Ask to see the full sheet, not a cropped photo — a genuine sheet usually has the auction house name, lot number, and date.
• If anything about the paintwork or panel gaps doesn't match what the sheet describes, walk away or get an independent mechanic to look at it before you pay anything.

For more general checks on any used car, see our guide on how to check a used car before buying and our safety tips page.

What else should you check in Sri Lanka besides the auction sheet?

The auction sheet covers the car's condition in Japan — it doesn't cover Sri Lankan paperwork. Separately confirm:

• The vehicle has (or will get) its required roadworthiness inspection for import, as cardreams.lk explains for the JAAI/QISJ process.
• The import and registration documents are complete and the vehicle is properly registered with the DMT (RMV), not still sitting on temporary or provisional paperwork.
• Current import age limits, duties, and individual import restrictions, since these have changed as the import ban was lifted — confirm the latest position with Sri Lanka Customs or the DMT rather than relying on an old figure, as rules have been moving through 2025 and 2026.

If you're comparing what a similar grade and mileage should cost locally, run it through price check before you negotiate, and browse current listings on /vehicles.

Common mistakes buyers make with auction sheets

• Trusting the grade number alone and skipping the interior letter and damage diagram.
• Not checking the chassis number against the actual car.
• Assuming "showroom condition" from the seller overrides what the sheet says — if they disagree, trust the sheet.
• Treating the auction sheet as a substitute for a proper pre-purchase inspection, including checking for flood damage, hybrid battery health, or recent accident repairs done after the car left Japan.
• Not asking who issued the sheet or when, so there's no way to confirm it's recent and unaltered.

Checklist before you pay a deposit

• Get the full auction sheet, not a cropped image.
• Check the overall grade and the interior letter grade separately.
• Read or get help reading the damage diagram for exact trouble spots.
• Match the chassis number on the sheet to the number on the car and the import papers.
• Be extra cautious with any R or RA grade.
• Confirm the vehicle has valid import and roadworthiness documents, and is properly registered with the DMT.
• Get an independent mechanic's opinion if the price looks too good for the grade shown.

If you're still unsure about a specific sheet or seller, ask in the Wahanaya forum — other buyers and sellers there have usually seen the same auction house codes and can tell you if something looks off.

Sources

• What does R grade mean on a Japanese auction sheet? — Sri Lanka Car Import Glossary
• What is a pre-shipment inspection (PSI)? — Sri Lanka Car Import Glossary
• Govt. lifts vehicle import ban - Sunday Times
• Sri Lanka Vehicle Import Restrictions Relaxed: New Rules for 2026
• What Japanese Auction Grades Mean (3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 6, R, RA)