Good day, today is a great day to discuss the rating system, providing you with a solid reference for your purchase.
In the previous article, there are two ratings in the upper right corner of the vehicle condition report.
Let's introduce them separately.
The first is the overall vehicle condition rating, categorized as follows:
Rating R : Refurbished vehicle, accident-damaged vehicle. Typically indicates major repairs to the transmission or engine, or structural damage to the frame. This is the least recommended rating for purchase and requires careful evaluation. During our vehicle inspection, we will identify all potential issues to ensure safety, but we strongly advise against purchasing such vehicles.
Rating 1 : Typically flood-damaged or fire-damaged vehicles with severe exterior damage that compromises safety. Still not recommended for purchase.
Rating 2 : Severe surface damage requiring at least panel beating repairs, involving damage to the primer and visible deformation. Vehicles at this level are generally acceptable for purchase, though appearance will be significantly compromised.
Rating 3 : Features relatively severe surface scratches or scrapes, typically covering a small area but damaging the primer. Requires repair. Mileage is usually high. If appearance is not a concern or you have a budget for repairs, purchase may be considered.
Rating 3.5 : High mileage, older model year, with minor undercoat damage and mostly repairable paint scratches. Considered a quality vehicle offering good value for money. Recommended for purchase.
Rating 4 : Premium vehicle with moderate mileage (typically under 100,000 km) and an age of 8 years or less. Features minor surface scratches that can be easily repaired with repainting. Highly recommended premium vehicle rating.
Rating 4.5 : Low mileage (around 50,000 km or less), young age (around 5 years), with barely noticeable surface imperfections. Recommended for purchase; after maintenance, it's nearly indistinguishable from a new vehicle.
Rating 5 : Exceptional vehicle with mileage around 30,000 km and a model year under 5 years. No visible scratches or scuffs on the exterior. Slightly higher price but superior condition.
Rating 6 : Mileage under 20,000 km, model year within 5 years, no surface scratches or scuffs, interior shows no signs of use—virtually indistinguishable from new.
Rating S : Mileage around 3,000 km, model year within 5 years, no surface scratches or scuffs, interior shows no signs of use—nearly new.
Next is the interior rating:
Grade A : Brand new, no signs of use. Vehicles Rating 5, 6, or S typically fall into this category.
Grade B : The most common rating falls within the 2-5 range for vehicle condition, indicating signs of use but no significant wear or odors. The vehicle is generally clean and tidy, and can be used normally after cleaning.
Grade C : The lowest interior rating, commonly found in vehicles rated R-2, features stubborn stains or odors that are difficult to remove, along with wear marks on the gearshift, steering wheel, and seats.
Conclusion: Each used car's rating is universally applicable and consistent across all Japanese auction houses, allowing for straightforward assessment of a vehicle's condition based solely on its score. Interestingly, the grading system is exceptionally rigorous—a car that should receive a perfect 5 might be downgraded to 4.5 or even 4 if a barely visible stone chip is found on any part of the vehicle. This demonstrates the system's strictness, and it also means we can often find hidden gems among these models.
I'm Michael, a Japanese used car auctioneer dedicated to saving my clients time, money, and hassle.
