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How to Read a Japanese Car Auction Sheet

Auction sheets vary from auction to auction, but they contain the same basic information.

Chassis / VIN

The sheet shows the VIN (vehicle identification number) or chassis number used in Japan.

Age and first registration

Age of Japanese cars is counted from first registration in Japan, so the manufacture date written on the auction sheet does not always mean the actual date of manufacture.

Buyers whose countries put age restrictions on imported cars should check the actual manufacture date (year and month) before purchase. There are numerous online VIN decoder services; some are free and some require payment. You can also ask JUC Inc. to check the manufacture date for a lot listed on the daily Japanese car auctions.

Condition grades and damage

Interior/exterior grades and damage maps differ by auction house. Treat the sheet as an inspection snapshot, not a guarantee. Ask for a translation of the sheet after you have an account if the original is in Japanese.

Examples of sheets are shown only when the lot is allowed to publish them. Guests see a placeholder instead of the full sheet on public lot pages.

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