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What is Japanese Used Vehicle Grading system ?

Grading is the most important part in preparation of Inspection sheet of any Japanese used vehicle. Grading describes the quality of the used cars and its usage.

It is useful to all those importers who order used vehicles, trucks online and can’t visit Japan physically to check vehicle’s exact condition. It allows the buyers to decide how much the same used vehicle will cost in the market or how longer the same vehicle will now run further. These grading are always been done under very strict and standard way, so that importers can trust these grading and order them if it meets their requirement.

Below are the grades with their specification, which can help importers to understand the condition of the used vehicle they are buying:

Grades About Rust & Panel

S1: Slightly rust.

S2: Rust a little bigger than S1.

S3: Rust needed to be repaired.

XX: Panel has been changed.

X: Panel need to be replaced.

Grading with descriptions:

S: As good as new

9 to 5: Excellent Condition (Low mileage)

4.5: Good Condition and repair maybe unnecessary

4: Reasonably good condition but little repair needed

3.5: Some repair work needed

3: Repair work needed or high mileage
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What is Odometer Inspection in Japan ?

Odometer Inspection is an important inspection to check authenticity of a used vehicle’s mileage at time of importing, buying and selling a Japan used vehicle. All types of vehicles are subject to odometer tampering like Analogue, digital, and diagnostic. Thus Odometer inspection is of great importance to importers and buyers of used vehicles.

Odometer Inspection consists of a forensic examination subject to removal of the odometer unit, diagnostic testing, vehicle condition, available maintenance records and documents and finally cross checking with the national database. Once a vehicle passes inspection, a sticker is placed on the front windscreen identifying it as having an authentic odometer reading.

Followings organizations are issuing Odometer inspection certifications:

• Japan Export Vehicle Inspection Certificate (JEVIC) is a pre-shipment inspection and certification provided by JEVIC Co. Ltd., It is a Japan based private company providing certifications for authenticity of the used vehicles in various forms since 2001. JEVIC office is located in all major ports in Japan like in Kawasaki (Tokyo Bay) Nagoya, Yokohama (Tokyo Bay), Osaka and Hakata. They are also having their branch offices in New Zealand & Singapore. JEVIC having strict ways of inspecting used vehicles and we can understand their reputation by the fact that some of the countries have made it mandatory for used vehicles to have JEVIC inspection certificate. JEVIC has worldwide customers like Government bodies, automobile associations, importers, exporters and different types of international trading companies along with end users.
• The Japan Auto Appraisal Institute (JAAI) is an organization with a network of 52 branches covering all 47 prefectures in Japan, and is the only organization in Japan to conduct export inspections of used cars. Its organizational ability and fairness have been highly evaluated, and since 1967, the Japanese government has authorized JAAI as the quality inspection agency for second-hand Japanese cars exported overseas. After passing JAAI’s inspection, a label is attached to the vehicle and a certification in English is issued. Because JAAI stores related documents for a period of one year after vehicle inspection, JAAI is able to respond to inquiries on a vehicle’s condition, manufacturing year, grade, equipment, and driving distance at the time of inspection.
• Japan Odometer Certification Institute (JOCI) is a substitute organization of Nippon Jidosha Service registered in Japan and has been involved in certification of odometer readings in all types of used vehicles. JOCI has access to odometer reading data of all the vehicles sold in Japanese auto auctions. JOCI is an independent organization which provides online odometer certification service.

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