SheetJP blog
Buyer's guides and tips for importing Japanese cars with confidence.
Why a chassis number can have more than one auction sheet
One Japanese chassis number can appear at auction more than once. Each listing gets its own inspection sheet. Learn why that happens and how to read the records together.
Read article Blog · 6 minGrade 3 vs Grade 3.5 — what the extra half usually means
Grade 3.5 is average used condition on a Japanese auction sheet. Grade 3 is below that — more obvious wear. Structural repair history is usually R or RA, not a 3 or 3.5 by itself. Educational comparison only.
Read article Blog · 6 minGrade 4 vs Grade 4.5 — what usually changes
Grade 4 is the common good-used baseline on a Japanese auction sheet. Grade 4.5 usually means lighter use and cleaner presentation, often at a higher price. Compare letters, mileage and the damage map — not the half-grade alone.
Read article Blog · 8 minOlder Japanese imports and missing auction records
Older Japanese imports are more likely to miss an instant auction-sheet lookup. Age and uncommon models lower archive odds. A specialist search can still be tried; it is not a guaranteed find. Partial records count as a find. A complete miss refunds 95%.
Read article Blog · 8 minInstant lookup found no auction sheet. What next?
If SheetJP’s instant chassis lookup cannot sell a Japanese auction sheet, you are not charged $10. Recheck the frame number, decide whether a $75 specialist search is worth it, or inspect the car without a sheet. A miss is not a fraud verdict.
Read article Blog · 8 minCan you verify a Mercedes auction sheet from Japan?
Yes — if a Mercedes (or other European marque) went through a Japanese auction, you can verify the original sheet with the full VIN. What the record shows, and how it differs from JDM chassis codes.
Read article Blog · 6 minCase study: dash said 62,000 km — auction sheet said 118,000
How chassis-number verification exposes odometer rollback on Japanese imports: when the dashboard reading is lower than the mileage recorded at auction in Japan.
Read article Blog · 7 minCase study: dealer said “clean Grade 4.5” — the sheet said R
A real-world pattern we see on Japanese imports: a tidy dealer sheet claiming Grade 4.5, while the original auction record shows R-grade repair history. How chassis verification caught it.
Read article Blog · 5 minWhat mileage is too high for a Japanese import?
There is no single “too high” kilometre figure for Japanese imports. Learn how to judge mileage using year, auction grade, interior wear and the original sheet — and how to spot rollback fraud.
Read article Blog · 5 minGrade 4.5 vs Grade 5 — is the upgrade worth it?
What grade 4.5, 5 and 6 mean on a Japanese auction sheet, how much extra Grade 5 usually costs, and when the higher grade is worth paying for.
Read article Blog · 6 minShould I buy an R-grade Japanese car?
A practical buy/pass framework for R and RA grade Japanese auction cars — when the discount is enough, what to check on the damage map, and when to walk away.
Read article Blog · 8 minWhy “no auction sheet” is a red flag
If a dealer can't produce the auction sheet for an imported Japanese car, here's what it usually means — and how to get the original yourself by chassis number.
Read article Blog · 8 minGrade 4 vs Grade 3.5 — which should you buy?
What auction grade 3.5 means vs Grade 4: condition, price, and when a 3.5 is a smart buy. Compare Japanese auction grades before you pay a dealer.
Read article Blog · 5 min5 ways to spot a fake Japanese auction sheet
Dealers sometimes show edited or fabricated auction sheets. Here are five practical checks to tell a genuine Japanese auction sheet from a fake — and the one check that settles it.
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