Auction sheet symbols and damage map
The body diagram on an auction sheet is annotated with coded symbols marking every defect. Learn the code and you can picture the car's condition without ever seeing it.
How the code works
Inspectors mark defects on a top-down (or side) body diagram. Each mark combines a letter for the defect type with a severity number. Isolated light marks on an older car are normal. Clusters of repair symbols on one corner usually tell a bigger story than a single overall grade.
Full symbol reference
| Symbol | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| A1 / A2 / A3 / A4 | Scratch | Small → large / severe |
| U1 / U2 / U3 / U4 | Dent | Small → large / severe |
| E1 / E2 / E3 | Dimples | Few / several / many (often hail) |
| W1 / W2 / W3 | Repair mark / wave | Hardly detectable → clearly visible |
| B | Dent with scratch | Combined impact damage |
| S | Rust | Check severity number and location |
| C | Corrosion | More serious than surface rust |
| P | Paint mark / touch-up | Cosmetic; common on older cars |
| X | Replace | Panel needs replacing |
| XX | Replaced | Panel has already been replaced |
| G | Glass crack / chip | Windscreen, lights, etc. |
| Y | Crack | Often plastic / bumper related |
Severity numbers (1–4)
When a number appears after the letter, treat it as a scale: 1 is minor and often cosmetic, 2–3 are clearly visible, and 4 is severe. Auction houses differ slightly in thresholds, but the ranking is consistent enough to compare cars.
| Severity | What it usually means for a buyer |
|---|---|
| 1 | Cosmetic; often ignore on a high-mileage daily |
| 2 | Visible; price or negotiate if clustered |
| 3 | Obvious; budget repair or walk if structural area |
| 4 | Severe; inspect carefully or pass |
The XX trap (and when XX matters)
XX means a panel has already been replaced. On bolt-on panels — doors, bumpers, fenders, bonnets — that is common after parking scrapes and is not by itself structural accident history. Structural repair shows up as an R or RA overall grade, not merely as XX.
Reading marks together
- One A1 on a ten-year-old car is noise.
- A line of W2/W3 down one side suggests panel work — cross-check grade and price.
- S/C under the sills or wheel arches on Land Cruisers / Hilux-type trucks deserves a hard look.
- Interior letter grades aren't on the map — check them separately for taxi/fleet wear.
Learn the whole sheet in our how-to-read guide. Comparing grades? Start with Grade 4 vs 3.5.
See your car's real damage map
Get the original auction sheet, symbols and all, by chassis number.
Verify auction sheetFrequently asked questions
What does XX mean on an auction sheet?
What does W mean on an auction sheet?
What does the number after the letter mean?
Do auction symbols mean the car is unsafe?
Related reading
How to read a Japanese auction sheet
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Read guide Guide · 6 minJapanese auction grades explained
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Read guide Guide · 7 minWhat does R and RA grade mean?
R and RA on a Japanese auction sheet mean repair or accident history. Learn the difference, how to read the damage map, when an R-grade car is worth buying, and how to verify the grade is real.
Read guide Blog · 8 minGrade 4 vs Grade 3.5 — which should you buy?
The difference between a Grade 4 and a Grade 3.5 Japanese auction car, what it means for condition and price, and how to decide which is right for your budget.
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