What Is a Japanese Auction Sheet?
Every used kei truck that passes through a Japanese vehicle auction — JU, USS, TAA, and dozens of smaller regional houses — gets inspected by an independent auction-house inspector before sale. That inspection becomes a one-page auction sheet: a standardized report with an overall condition grade, separate exterior and interior letter grades, a diagram of the vehicle marked with every scratch, dent, and repair, and notes on modifications, smoking history, and known issues. If you’re buying a Japanese mini truck sight-unseen, this sheet is the closest thing you get to a pre-purchase inspection, which is exactly why importers like JPM Mini Trucks use auction grade as a first filter before a truck is ever offered for sale.
The Overall Grade: S Through R
The headline number on the sheet is the overall condition grade. Here’s what each one actually means in practice:
| S | Under 12 months old at auction. Essentially new. Rare on kei trucks this old. |
| 6 | Under 3 years old and under roughly 30,000 km. Very late model, very clean. |
| 5 | Near-perfect condition with only the faintest imperfections. Hard to find on a 20+ year old truck. |
| 4.5 | Excellent condition, minor cosmetic wear only. This is the grade JPM targets for most inventory. |
| 4 | Good condition with small scratches or dings — normal for a working truck. |
| 3.5 | The most common grade on the market. Wide range of condition; read the diagram carefully. |
| 3 | Noticeable wear, more significant cosmetic issues. |
| R / RA | Repaired accident damage. Can still drive fine, but budget for a closer inspection. |
Exterior & Interior Letter Grades
Separate from the overall number, the sheet grades exterior (body/paint) and interior (cabin) condition on an A–E scale, A being best. A truck can carry a solid 4 overall grade but a C interior if a previous owner used it hard as a farm hauler — worth knowing before you commit, especially if you plan to drive the truck daily rather than just work it.
Reading the Diagram & Symbols
The car-shaped diagram on the sheet is annotated with symbols keyed to a legend: A1/A2 for small dents, W1 for scratches, U for dent-and-scratch combos, X for repaired or replaced panels, and so on. Most sheets are in Japanese shorthand, so a reputable importer will translate the relevant flags for you rather than just forwarding the raw sheet. When JPM sources a truck, this is one of the first things we check — not just the headline grade, but where on the vehicle the wear actually is.
Why This Matters More Than the Photos
Photos can hide a lot; a auction sheet generally can’t, because the inspector has no reason to flatter the car. If you’re comparing two trucks — say a Suzuki Carry and a Daihatsu Hijet at a similar price — the auction grade and sheet notes are usually a better tiebreaker than the listing photos alone. It’s also worth pairing the auction sheet with a physical pre-purchase inspection checklist once the truck lands in the US, since a few things (like frame rust from road salt) simply won’t show up on a Japan-side sheet.
Frequently Asked Questions
What auction grade should I look for on a kei truck?
For a daily-use truck, 4 or 4.5 is a strong sweet spot — clean enough to look good, cheap enough to stay affordable. Grade 3.5 trucks can still be excellent work vehicles; just budget a little extra for cosmetic touch-ups.
Is an R-grade truck a bad buy?
Not automatically. R means repaired accident damage, not necessarily a bad repair. Ask for the specific damage location and repair details before ruling it out — some R-grade trucks are excellent value.
Can I request the actual auction sheet for a truck I’m considering?
Yes. Contact us with the vehicle you’re looking at and we’ll walk you through the sheet and translate the condition notes before you buy.
Do auction grades affect resale value in the US?
Indirectly, yes. Since there’s no US book value for these vehicles, original condition and documentation (including the auction sheet) are what buyers and insurers lean on to establish value later.
Browse our current in-stock kei trucks, all sourced and graded before they’re listed, or read our full import guide for the rest of the buying process.