Car grading is mainly a system that describes the condition and usage of a used car. This system gives any required information and a quick idea of the condition of the used vehicle to the buyer. As many overseas buyers want to purchase Japanese used vehicles, the grading system is so important in car portals.
Why Grading System Is Important In Japan:
Maximum used Japanese cars get sold by various online pages, websites & car auctions. So, buyers must know the history of the used car. But it's not always possible for buyers to come & check the condition of the car physically. The grading system gives genuine news about a car. That's why this process is so popular among buyers.
Grading System :
Used car grading systems have been divided into some sections based on visible & mechanical conditions. Exterior grading recounts the outlook & visible scratches. Interior grading describes the interior conditions of a car.
Several Types of Defects :
●Dents:
Broadly damaged areas that require metal work are called dents. Dents can be divided into U1, U2, and U3 dents.
U1- Very slightly dent
U2- Small dent
U3- Large dent
●Scratches:
Grazing the body of your car with another one leaves scratches in the metal parts of the car. Scratches are refuted into A1, A2 & A3.
A1- Very light scratch
A2- Light to endurable scratch
A3- Deep scratch
●Wave:
Waves have three categories named W1, W2 & W3 waves.
W1- Lightwave on panel
W2- Small wave on panel
W3- Large wave on panel
●Rust:
When the metal parts of a car mix with oxygen & water it causes rust. Rust is generally identified with S1, S2 & S3 rust on an auction sheet.
S1- Slightly rust
S2- Little bigger rust than S1
S3- A big rust that needed to be repaired.
Overall Grade :
There are almost 13 overall grades based on usage, mileage, damages, maintenance, and repair. These are - S, 6, 5, 4.5, 4, 3.5, 3, 2, 1, R, RA, R1, RA1.
Grade S: Which cars have been registered no longer than 1 year is given the grade S. You can consider it as almost a new car. The speedometer of the car will show less than 10,000 kilometers or sometimes even less than that. The car doesn't have any damage or shuffle.
Grade 6: This is a slightly used car in excellent condition that has been driven less than 30,000 kilometers. It's registered for up to 3 years. It can have some invisible scratches that don't need any repair.
Grade 5: Well-maintained car in worthy condition. The speedometer of the car will be between 50,000 to 60,000 kilometers. It can have a few dents & scratches on metal body parts.
Grade 4.5: A highly demandable vehicle that may require slight mending. Can have minor scratches. It may have a replacement of a panel that is fixed with screws. The mileage of the car will be no more than 100,000 kilometers.
Grade 4: This car may need some repair & maintenance. May have driven 150,000 kilometers. Visible scratches and cracks can be found & have the panel replacement. Probably need some bodywork or paint to look as new.
Grade 3.5: This is an average car with noticeable scratches, cracks & dents. The exterior may have noticeable scraps & rusts. Need repair that is mentioned in the auction sheet. This is also a high mileage car.
Grade 3: Grade 3 is a high mileage car with a serious condition. It has huge cracks, paint stains & corrosion. May have a replacement of panels which required welding to the structure e. g. (door sills, rare quarters).
Grade 2: It is a car in very poor condition & has severe defects which need a lot of repairs. May have large corrosion & dents along with significant structural issues.
Grade 1: Grade 1 cars have a major issue history. Possibly fire damaged or flood-damaged car.
Grade R: Vehicle from a serious car crash and badly damaged. Perhaps it needs a lot to repair.
Grade RA: Badly damaged & repaired car. Can be fully depreciated with even minor accidents.
Grade R1: Is termed as R and 1 an extreme case of a car accident.
Grade RA1: These cars are not for driving. The metal parts or seats can be used to repair any used car.
Interior Grading System :
A: Excellent quantity vehicles with no missing parts. Some cars may have a few scratches.
B: These cars have very good interior conditions. May have some unnoticeable scraps. Don't need any repair.
C: The interior is worn with the average condition. Can have cigarette holes, food stains, or footprints.
D: Below average condition car. Torn seats, bad odor, loose upholstery, huge scratches can be seen.
E: Poor interior conditions which need a lot of repairs. Contains gaps in the dashboard and has all problems that are mentioned above.
Exterior Grading System :
A: Has an awesome exterior outlook with not even a slight scrap.
B: This car may contain 5 cm to 15 cm scratches or little stains.
C: Good conditioned car but may have few scratches up to 30 cm, dents, or rust.
D: Contains visible scratches, rust & corrosion. The metal parts can be blotchy.
E: These cars might require a change of panel. Need to be repainted. It has an exterior breakdown in very poor condition.
This is the main grading system that is generally described in the auction sheet. By considering the auction sheet, a buyer can easily have a sharp thought about the current situation of the car. The grading system also allows the buyers to decide how much the used vehicle will cost in the market. So, the grading system is an extremely important process for both buyers and car owners.
