Auction sheet grades explained — S to R
One number on the auction sheet moves an imported car's price by lakhs — which is exactly why it's the number sellers edit most. Here is what every Japanese auction grade really means, which grades are worth buying in Pakistan, and how to confirm the grade on your sheet is genuine.
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Every grade, from S to 0
The overall grade is assigned by the auction house's independent inspector before sale. It rates the whole car — body, paint, mechanical condition — on one scale.
Brand-new condition
Registered but essentially new — delivery mileage, no flaws recorded. Rare in Pakistan and priced accordingly.
Like new
A few thousand kilometres at most, showroom condition. Some houses use 6 instead of S.
Excellent
Very low wear, no notable marks on the diagram. The best realistic grade for a used import.
Very good
Light cosmetic marks only — a couple of small A (scratch) or U (dent) codes. Most sought-after grade for value.
Good
Normal wear for age and mileage. Small dents and scratches, nothing structural. The sweet spot for most buyers in Pakistan.
Average
Visible wear — multiple dents, scratches or a repaired panel. Fine at the right price, but read the damage map carefully.
Below average
Heavy cosmetic wear, faded paint or repairs likely needed. Budget for reconditioning on top of the price.
Poor
Serious condition problems — corrosion, mechanical issues or extensive damage. Usually bought for parts or deep restoration.
Very poor / modified
Severely damaged, flood/fire history at some houses, or heavily modified drivetrain. Not a normal purchase.
Repaired accident vehicle
The car had accident damage that was repaired. RA usually means the repair is minor. An R car can be fine — but only at an R price, and only after a physical inspection of the repair quality.
Special note
House-specific mark for significant damage, flood, fire or heavy modification. Treat as a warning until the original record is verified.
The grade is only half the story — the body diagram carries the detail. See our guide to auction sheet damage codes, or keep the one-page Auction Sheet Decoder handy. You can also download it as a free printable PDF.
Interior grades: A to D
Beside the overall grade sits a letter rating the cabin only. Buyers fixate on the number and skip the letter — then discover cigarette burns and a D-grade odour after paying a 4.5-grade price. Always read both together.
A grade like 4.5 / B reads: very good body, lightly worn interior.
What each grade looks like in a real listing
Typical cars we see in the Pakistani market, and what their grade actually meant once the sheet was verified.
Toyota Vitz, 2019 import
Sheet showed 4.5 · interior B with a couple of A1 marks on the doors. Verification matched the record — light kerb-side scratches you could barely see. This is the sweet spot: honest wear, nothing structural, priced above a 4 but worth it.
Toyota Aqua, hybrid import
Grade 4 · interior B, U1 dent on the rear fender and W1 on the front bumper. A repaired panel, done well — invisible to the eye, visible on the sheet. Fine to buy once the repair is confirmed cosmetic, and a fair negotiation point.
Suzuki Alto / older Corolla
Grade 3.5 · interior C, multiple A2/U2 marks and a W2 wave on the quarter panel. Perfectly usable daily car — but it should be priced like a 3.5, not polished up and sold at 4.5 money. This is the grade most often "upgraded" on fake sheets.
Honda Fit, accident-repaired
R grade — the sheet records structural accident repair in Japan. Some R cars are honestly repaired and cheap for a reason; the danger is an R sold as a 4 with a doctored sheet. Always verify R/RA history before believing any "total genuine" claim.
Examples are illustrative of typical verified sheets — every car is different. The only way to know what your sheet means is to verify it against the original record.
The printed grade proves nothing
Turning a 3.5 into a 4.5 — or an R into a 4 — takes a forger five minutes and earns a dishonest seller lakhs. The grade only means something when it's checked against the original auction record using the chassis number, lot number and auction date.
CarOK verifies the record and confirms the true grade, free. If the sheet has been doctored, you'll know before you pay — not after. Learn all the warning signs in our fake auction sheet detection guide.
Same car · different sheets
A pattern we see regularly — the difference between these two sheets is the price of a repaired accident car sold as a clean one.
Which grade should you buy in Pakistan?
One caveat before the advice below: a grade is only worth what its paperwork can prove. On an import that also means the import file — a grade 4.5 car with an incomplete customs record is still a car you may struggle to transfer into your name.
Grade 4 – 4.5
Honest, well-kept cars with normal wear. In the Pakistani market these carry the best condition-to-price ratio — provided the grade is verified genuine.
Grade 3.5 or R/RA
Can be smart buys at clearly discounted prices — but only after the damage map is decoded and, for R cars, the repair is physically inspected.
Grade ≤ 2, 0 / ***
Severe damage, flood/fire history or heavy modification. Whatever the asking price, the risk belongs with traders and restorers — not with a family buyer.
The sheet grades the past. We grade the present.
Paint, panels and odometers can all change after the car lands in Pakistan. CarOK is the only service that verifies the auction grade and physically inspects the same car across 70+ checkpoints — see how the two compare in auction sheet vs physical inspection.
Auction grades — your questions
Still unsure about the grade on a sheet you've been sent? Verify it free — read the full Japanese auction sheet guide, or check the auction sheet FAQ.
What is a good auction sheet grade to buy in Pakistan?
Grade 4 and 4.5 are the sweet spot for most buyers — genuinely good cars at sensible prices. Grade 5 and above are excellent but priced at a premium. Grade 3.5 can be good value if the damage map shows only cosmetic wear and the price reflects it.
What does grade R mean on an auction sheet?
R (or RA) means the car suffered accident damage in Japan and was repaired before auction. RA generally indicates a lighter repair than R. An R-grade car is not automatically bad — but it must be priced clearly below an equivalent clean-grade car, and the repair quality should be physically inspected before you buy.
Is grade 3.5 worth buying?
Often, yes — 3.5 means average condition with visible wear, not a damaged car. The key is the damage diagram: a 3.5 with scattered small scratches is very different from a 3.5 with W (repair) marks on structural panels. Have the sheet decoded before deciding.
What is the difference between grade 4 and 4.5?
Both are good, honest cars. A 4.5 has only light cosmetic marks — often one or two small scratches — while a 4 shows normal wear for its age, such as a few small dents and scratches. In Pakistan the price gap between them is often larger than the condition gap, which makes a verified grade 4 excellent value.
What does the interior grade (A, B, C, D) mean?
It rates the cabin separately from the body: A is clean and well kept, B has light wear, C has noticeable stains or scratches, and D has heavy wear such as burns, tears or odour. A car can be exterior grade 4.5 with a C interior — always read both.
Can a seller inflate the auction grade?
Yes — grade inflation is one of the most common frauds in the imported-car market. A sheet is edited to turn a 3.5 into a 4.5, or an R into a 4. The grade printed on a photocopy or "translation" proves nothing; only verification against the original auction record confirms the true grade. CarOK verifies sheets free.