Every car at a Japanese auction comes with an inspection sheet filled in by an independent inspector. It is the single most useful document when buying remotely.
The grade
Grades run from 1 to 5 (S for near-new). Grade 4 means a clean car with minor marks; 3.5 means visible scratches or small dents; R or RA means accident repair history.
The diagram
The car outline is marked with codes: A1 to A3 for scratches, U1 to U3 for dents, W1 to W3 for repainted panels, S and C for rust and corrosion, XX for replaced panels.
What we check
We read the sheet, the notes in Japanese, and compare them with the photos. If something does not add up, we skip the lot.