We don't go to auction houses, and we don't take requests to view cars there. Here's why, and what to do instead.
The honest reason
I've never been to a car auction in Japan, and I've never read an auction sheet. I'd rather say that plainly than write a guide to something I haven't done.
What I do look at is the car itself: the rust, the underside, the strut tops and the other places that dealer photos tend to miss. We do that at dealers, visiting openly, with the dealer's permission.
If the car you want is going through an auction
- Before the auction: auction houses have their own inspectors, and your export agent can arrange a pre-bid check there.
- After the auction, at a dealer: once a car is sitting at a dealer, it's dealer stock like any other. If the dealer agrees to a viewing and the car is somewhere we can reach, we can go and see it.
- Paperwork from the dealer: if the dealer sends you papers for the car, including an auction sheet, a Remote Check can translate them for you.
What we can't tell you
- What an auction grade means for a particular car. We translate what's written. We don't grade cars, and we don't say whether a sheet is accurate.
- Anything about a car we haven't seen. A grade, a listing or a set of photos is someone else's record, not ours.
If the car you're thinking about is at a dealer in Japan, not an auction house, send it to us and we'll tell you what we can do.
Sources
- The founder has never been to a car auction in Japan or read an auction sheet: his own words, 2 October 2026
- What we don't do, including auction houses: On-Site Vehicle Viewing and our Terms of Service, checked 3 October 2026
Found a car at a dealer rather than at auction? Send us the listing.