Japan car import glossary
What do FOB, CIF, RoRo and auction grade 4.5 mean? These are the terms buyers meet when importing a used car from Japan, each defined in a sentence or two.
Go deeper: How Japan car auctions work · Import cost calculators
What are the key import terms?
Auction sheet
The inspection report printed for every car at a Japanese auction. It shows the inspector's overall and interior grade, the mileage, a body diagram marked with defects, the equipment and written comments. Learn more
USS
USS is the largest used-car auction network in Japan, with venues from Tokyo to Nagoya and Fukuoka. Only licensed members can bid, which is why overseas buyers buy through a member such as AVON INTERNATIONAL (Members Card L-1525). Learn more
FOB (Free On Board)
A price that covers the car and its loading onto the ship at the Japanese port. Ocean freight, insurance and everything after loading are paid on top.
CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight)
A price that covers the car, ocean freight and marine insurance up to the destination port. Many countries calculate import duty on the CIF value. Learn more
C&F (Cost and Freight)
Like CIF but without insurance: the price covers the car and ocean freight to the destination port. Insurance is arranged separately if you want it.
RoRo vs container shipping
RoRo (roll-on/roll-off) means the car is driven onto a vehicle carrier, which is usually the cheapest and most frequent option. Container shipping secures the car inside a 20 ft or 40 ft container for extra protection at a higher cost. Learn more
Kei car
A Japanese small-vehicle class limited to 660 cc of engine, 3.4 m of length and 1.48 m of width. Kei trucks and vans are popular imports because they are cheap to buy and run. Learn more
25-year rule
A United States federal rule that lets a vehicle at least 25 years old be imported without meeting current US safety and emissions standards. Other countries set their own age limits, so check the rules for your destination. Learn more
JEVIC, QISJ and JAAI
JEVIC (Japan Export Vehicle Inspection Center), QISJ (Quality Inspection Services Japan) and JAAI (Japan Auto Appraisal Institute) are the bodies that issue pre-shipment inspection certificates. Which one is accepted depends on the destination country.
Export Certificate
The official document showing a car has been deregistered in Japan for export. It is issued after purchase and goes into the shipping documents.
B/L (Bill of Lading)
The shipping line's contract and title document for your car. The original B/L, or a telex release or sea waybill, is what lets you collect the car at the destination port.
IDF (Import Declaration Fee)
A customs fee charged on the import declaration in some countries. In Kenya our calculator applies 2.5%. Learn more
RHD vs LHD
RHD is right-hand drive and LHD is left-hand drive. Japan drives on the left, so almost all of its auction stock is RHD, and we do not convert steering. Learn more
What do auction grades mean?
Auction grade 0
A special-note grade in the accident-repair family — typically one or more repaired or replaced panels, or other disclosures. Read the sheet carefully.
Auction grade 1
Heavily modified or mechanically altered (e.g. an engine or transmission swap), or stripped for racing; some auctions also use grade 1 for flood, fire, or salt-damaged cars.
Auction grade 2
A very rough vehicle — heavy rust or corrosion holes, or serious panel damage.
Auction grade 3
Noticeable wear, dents or scratches; budget for repairs.
Auction grade 4
Good, average used condition with minor scratches or dents.
Auction grade 5
Excellent condition with only minor wear.
Auction grade 6
As-new condition; very low mileage.
Auction grade 7
As-new / delivery-mileage condition.
Auction grade 8
As-new / delivery-mileage condition.
Auction grade 9
As-new / delivery-mileage condition.
Auction grade S
Brand-new or delivery-mileage condition — generally under 12 months old and under 10,000 km. At some auctions S also denotes a "Special" premium or collector car.
Auction grade 4.5
Excellent overall condition with very light cosmetic wear.
Auction grade 3.5
Below average; visible wear and small repairs likely needed.
Auction grade A
On the overall-grade line, A marks an accident-repaired vehicle (the repair family, with R/RA/0) — or at some auctions an irregular or heavily-modified import. Read the sheet carefully.
Auction grade R
Repair history — the car has been in an accident and repaired (graded "RA" for light repair).
Auction grade RA
Repair history — a light or minor accident repair.
Auction grade RB
Repair history — a moderate accident repair, more extensive than RA.
Auction grade RC
Repair history — a more extensive accident repair than RB.
Auction grade R1
Repair history — a light or minor accident repair.
Auction grade ***
Cannot be graded, or the inspector noted a serious fault (engine trouble, prior accident, or fire). Note: *** can also appear next to the mileage to mean the odometer reading is unconfirmed, and a star on a number grade (e.g. 4.5*) flags a mechanical fault or a body-only grade. Read the sheet carefully.
Auction grade ☆
Used like *** at some auctions: ungradeable, or a noted fault — read the sheet carefully.
What do interior grades mean?
Interior grade A
As-new interior; virtually no faults.
Interior grade B
Very clean interior, above average.
Interior grade C
Average interior — clean for its age with expected wear (at some auctions C means dirty or worn: normal on an older car, but a concern on a nearly-new one).
Interior grade D
Dirty or damaged interior — smoke smell or burns, rips or tears, heavy wear, or stripped.
Interior grade E
The worst interior grade, used at auctions that extend the scale to E.
What do auction sheet map marks mean?
Sheet mark A: Scratch
A scratch — small ones usually buff out, deep ones need paint. On glass, A can instead mean a chip or light scratch.
Sheet mark E: Dimple
Small dimples, for example from hail.
Sheet mark U: Dent
A dent, such as a parking knock.
Sheet mark W: Wavy panel / likely repaint
The panel is wavy — often a sign it has been repainted and is not factory-smooth. W can also just reflect inspector uncertainty about past paintwork.
Sheet mark S: Rust
Surface rust (orange discoloration). In the written comments, S can flag more extensive underbody rust.
Sheet mark C: Corrosion
Corrosion — rust that is flaking away, worse than surface rust. On wheel arches this signals serious corrosion, often from snowy-region use.
Sheet mark B: Dent with scratch
A larger combined dent-and-scratch.
Sheet mark P: Paint damage
Paint damage — fading, discoloration, peeling, crazing or poor paintwork.
Sheet mark Y: Crack
A crack, usually in a bodykit, light, or plastic part.
Sheet mark D: Crack
A crack (used at some auctions).
Sheet mark X: Needs replacing
The part should be replaced. At small LUM/SMAP auctions a single X instead means "has been replaced"; XX always means replaced.
Sheet mark XX: Replaced
The panel has been replaced and/or repainted — a repair marker.
Sheet mark G: Stone chip
A stone chip, usually on the windscreen and often only pinhead-size.
Sheet mark H: Paint fading
The paintwork has faded.
Sheet mark F: Paint peeling
The paintwork is peeling.
Sheet mark L: Misaligned or cracked lens
Either a misaligned panel or a cracked lens, depending on where it is marked. L is overloaded — at a corner it usually means misaligned; on a light it means a cracked lens.
Sheet mark O: Pushed in
The panel is pushed in.
Sheet mark T: Cut
A cut in the surface.
Sheet mark R: Repaired crack
A repaired crack, typically on glass.
Sheet mark RX: Repaired but needs replacing
A windscreen crack was repaired but still needs replacement.
Sheet mark X1: ~1cm windscreen crack
About a 1 cm crack on the windscreen.
Sheet mark FW: Front windscreen
Marks the front windscreen — a location, not damage.
Who is behind these definitions?
- Legal name
- AVON INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
- Japan Corporate Number
- 1800-01-102810
- Registered
- 2011-09-20
- USS Members Card
- L-1525