Japanese auction sheets & UK car checks: the complete guide

Everything a used-car buyer needs to read a Japanese auction record or a UK vehicle history — and to tell an honest one from a doctored one. Written plainly, and backed by what CarTrust actually checks.

Start here

Spotting fake auction sheetsEdited grades, rolled-back mileage, wrong-car sheets and translation fraud — and how to verify the genuine record by chassis number.Read guide → R grade vs RA gradeWhat the two accident-repair grades mean, the price impact, the damage-diagram codes, and how to check a grade is real.Read guide → Why cars are sold at auctionThe shaken system, dealer trade-in rules and export demand — and why inspector independence makes imports verifiable.Read guide → UK car history checkWhat a UK plate or VIN check shows — MOT, mileage, tax, write-off and theft, keepers — and how CarTrust compares to free tools.Read guide → Safety recall checkRecalls issued in Japan don't fix themselves on import — how to check for open recalls by VIN and get them done.Read guide → Track a shipment from JapanIs the car really on a ship? Track the RoRo vessel, ports and expected arrival date by VIN.Read guide →

Why this matters

When you buy a used car from a third party, the seller knows everything and you see only what they choose to show you — one auction sheet, one translation, one figure on the odometer. Every guide here exists to close that gap: to turn a claim you'd otherwise take on faith into something you can check against the record.

The common thread across Japanese imports and UK cars is the same: trust the record, not the story — and pull the record yourself.

What CarTrust checks

Japanese imports (by chassis / VIN): every auction appearance with its original inspection sheet and an independent English translation, the grade as recorded, the mileage timeline with rollback flagged, decoded panel-damage codes, stolen/written-off markers, source photos and an open-recall check.

UK cars (by number plate or VIN): MOT and mileage history with a consistency check, tax, safety recalls, a decoded MIAFTR write-off & theft breakdown, previous keepers, plate/colour changes, import/export status and a valuation.

Each report is a permanent, shareable certificate. CarTrust verifies recorded provider data — it does not physically inspect the vehicle.

Check a Japanese import by VIN →

Check a UK car by plate or VIN →

Frequently asked questions

What is a Japanese auction sheet?

The document an independent auction-house inspector fills in when a used car crosses the block in Japan: an overall grade, interior grade, recorded mileage, a panel-by-panel damage diagram and notes. It's the most trusted record in the used-import world — but the copy a seller shows you can be edited, so verify it at source. See the fake-sheets guide.

How do I verify a Japanese import before buying?

Pull the auction record by chassis number, compare the grade and mileage against the sheet you were given, read an independent translation of the original sheet and its panel codes, and check the full mileage timeline for rollback. CarTrust does this by chassis/VIN and returns every appearance on file.

What does R or RA grade mean?

Both mean the car was in an accident and repaired. R = airbags not deployed (usually lower-energy); RA = airbags deployed (usually a heavier impact, higher structural risk). Expect roughly 25–40% off for R and 50–65% off for RA versus a clean grade.

How do I check a UK car?

A UK check is led by the number plate or VIN: it shows MOT and mileage history, tax, safety recalls, write-off and theft markers, previous keepers and a valuation. CarTrust presents it as a permanent, decoded certificate with a full write-off/theft breakdown.

Checked. Transparent. Trusted. — CarTrust verifies recorded provider data; we do not physically inspect the vehicle and do not accept responsibility for inaccuracies in the underlying source records. Guides are general information, not advice on a specific vehicle. All guides · Buying a used car · About CarTrust.