What is a Japanese auction sheet and how do you use it?
Most Japanese cars that are exported have been through an auction in Japan first. The sheet produced there is one of the best independent ways to check a car’s mileage and condition.
What it shows
An auction sheet shows the mileage when the car was inspected, an inspection grade, and a diagram of dents, scratches, rust and repairs on the body.
How to get one
- Ask the dealer for a copy.
- Or use one of the online services that find the sheet from the chassis number for a small fee. This is the safer route, because it does not depend on a document the seller handed you.
How to use it
- Compare the mileage on the sheet with the figure you found on the JEVIC website. They should match or be very close.
- Compare it with the export (deregistration) certificate, the Maltese logbook and the dashboard. Later readings should never be lower.
- Look at the body diagram and then at the car. Repairs, dents or rust that the sheet does not mention, or marks on the sheet that you cannot find on the car, are worth asking about.
What it cannot tell you
An auction sheet is a cross-check, not proof. Paper documents can be forged, and the sheet only describes the car on the day it was inspected. Use it together with the JEVIC online record, the logbook, the export certificate and an independent mechanic.
If the sheet does not match
A mismatch between the sheet and any other document is a red flag. Do not pay until the dealer explains it in writing. For the full process, see our guide to checking mileage on JEVIC, FAQ and what to do if your car’s mileage was tampered with.