Almost every Japanese used car imported into Kenya was sourced through a major Japanese auction house. During the intake process, an independent, certified inspector evaluates the vehicle and generates an official inspection sheet. This sheet acts as the vehicle's true medical record, detailing its exact physical condition, mechanical health, and history. However, because these documents are written in Japanese shorthand and use specific codes, they are opaque to the average buyer. Learning to decode these sheets is your single best shield against buying odometer-rolled or accident-repaired vehicles.

Understanding the Overall Auction Grade

The overall grade is located in the top-right corner of the sheet. It ranges from a perfect 'S' to a salvaged '0' or 'R'.

• ◆Grade S / 6: Brand new. Delivery mileage only (typically under 100 km).
• ◆Grade 5: As close to new as possible. Pristine paint and interior.
• ◆Grade 4.5: Excellent. Very light wear, may have tiny paint chips.
• ◆Grade 4: Good overall condition. Normal wear for age, minor scratches or small dents.
• ◆Grade 3.5: Average. Clear signs of wear, may require light body reconditioning.
• ◆Grade 3: Poor. Major scratches, noticeable interior wear, potential mechanical faults.
• ◆Grade R / RA: ACCIDENT REPAIRED. The vehicle has had structural or frame repairs.
• ◆Grade XX: Salvage or unmodified damaged vehicle.

Decoding the Body Diagram Map

The auction sheet contains a stylized schematic diagram showing the car's body panels. Inspectors mark this diagram with letters and numbers to indicate the location and severity of damage. The numbers (1 to 4) indicate severity: 1 is minor, 4 is severe.

1. 01A (Scratch): A1 (tiny scratch), A2 (noticeable scratch), A3 (deep scratch requiring painting).
2. 02U (Dent): U1 (pin-dent), U2 (medium dent), U3 (large dent).
3. 03W (Wavy / Repainted Panel): W1 (expert repaint, hard to see), W2 (visible repaint), W3 (poor paint match or visible orange peel).
4. 04S (Rust): S1 (surface rust), S2 (rust bubbles), S3 (severe structural corrosion).
5. 05C (Corrosion): Indicates advanced metal rot, usually on the underbody.
6. 06X (Replacement Required): Panel is heavily damaged and must be replaced.
7. 07XX (Replaced Panel): The fender, door, or bonnet has already been replaced.

The Odometer 'Mileage' Verification

Check the mileage section on the sheet. If you see a small symbol next to the mileage reading, it is a critical signal:

• ◆No Symbol: Verified mileage. The digital logs in Japan match the car's cluster.
• ◆Dollar Sign ($) or Asterisk (*): The mileage is unverified, indicating a suspected odometer rollback.
• ◆Hash (#): The odometer has been physically replaced, and the actual total mileage is unknown.

At Roskyways, we do not believe in hiding a vehicle's history. We provide the original, unedited Japanese auction sheet for every single Japanese import in our showroom, and we guide our clients through reading the codes line-by-line. To inspect our vehicles, call us on +254 768 377 047.