In this guide you will find out in less than 10 minutes:
- Why car auctions are so Strong
- Which cars are most in demand
- How auctions work in practice
- Average prices in the market
- Who can participate
- Practical step by step
Types of car auctions in Japan
1. Professional auctions (dealer only)
The large Japanese car auctions (such as USS, JU, TAA, CAA, Aucnet) are, as a rule, aimed only at dealers and companies in the automotive sector. To participate directly, you need to:
- Have a company registered in the automotive sector.
- Meet membership criteria (documents, history, guarantees).
- Pay membership fees and often deposits.
In the case of USS, for example:
- The system offers in person auctions, dedicated terminals and internet auctions, which allows members to participate from anywhere in the country.
- The flow is highly standardised: vehicle inspection sheet, auction day, post bid settlement and transfer of ownership in about one week.
For most Japanese people, the usual path is not to become a member, but to use a dealership or resale shop that already has access to these auction houses.
2. Auctions and platforms for the end consumer
For individuals, there are a few paths:
- Dealership or used car shop that buys at auction on your behalf
- You specify the model, year, mileage and budget.
- The shop searches auctions (USS, JU, etc.), shows reports and photos, and agrees on a maximum bid (Max Bid).
- If the car is won, you pay the bid plus auction house fees plus shop commission plus documentation costs.
- “Auction agent” or import/export services (aimed at Japanese and foreigners)
Specialised companies provide access to multiple auctions (USS, TAA, CAA, JU, Arai, Aucnet), show online inventory and charge a service fee to search, bid and handle documentation.
- Retail auctions and marketplaces
- Yahoo!オークション (Yahoo Auctions), Rakuten Car Auction and similar platforms allow you to buy cars directly from dealers or private sellers.
- They are not identical to the large professional auctions, but they work with bids or a hybrid auction plus “buy now” format.
In this scenario, Japanese consumers generally:
- Use shops or agents to access large professional auctions, and
- Use Yahoo!オークション or Rakuten when they want to negotiate directly online (with more care in assessing the seller and vehicle history).
Why are car auctions so strong in Japan?
Japan has a very particular automotive market:
- Fleet renewal is intense (many people change cars frequently, especially because of shaken, taxes and space).
- Japanese manufacturers dominate the domestic market, focusing on kei cars (mini vehicles) and economical compacts.
- A huge share of used cars goes through professional auctions, which supply both the domestic market and exports.
Large groups such as USS, JU, TAA, CAA and Aucnet form a national auction network with tens of thousands of vehicles offered every week.
USS, for example, is considered the largest used car auction network in the country and operates in several locations in Japan, with in person and online participation.
For Japanese consumers, often the “auction” is not something they enter directly, but rather via a used car dealer or dealership that buys at auctions on their behalf.
What type of car appears most (and is most in demand)?
The best selling cars in Japan also tend to be the most common at auctions, simply because there are many units in circulation.
In recent years, the top of the sales ranking has been dominated by:
Honda N Box (kei car)
Toyota Corolla / Corolla Cross
Toyota Yaris / Yaris Cross
Suzuki Spacia
Daihatsu Tanto
Toyota Sienta
Honda Freed
Suzuki Hustler
In addition, annual sales reports show that the Honda N-Box is consistently the best selling model among kei cars, while Toyota Corolla and Yaris lead among “regular” cars.
This means that, in auctions, you will see A LOT of:
- Popular kei cars for urban use (N Box, Spacia, Tanto, Move, Hustler).
- Economical compacts and hybrids (Corolla, Aqua, Yaris, Prius).
- Family minivans (Freed, Sienta, Serena).
These are highly liquid cars: easy to resell and with good parts availability.
How does a typical auction work (simplified example)?
Using the flow described by USS as a reference:
- Before auction day
- The car is received, photographed and inspected.
- An inspector issues the well known inspection sheet, with:
Exterior and interior grade (for example 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5).
Notes on dents, scratches, rust, structural repairs.
Mileage, transmission type, fuel, equipment.
- Members can see everything in the online system.
2. On auction day
- Each lot goes through a bidding room (in person or online) for a few seconds.
- Members enter their maximum bids in advance or in real time.
- The system automatically defines the winner when the highest bid reaches the seller’s minimum price (reserve price).
3. After the auction
- In about one week, the following are completed:
Payment for the vehicle.
Transfer of ownership.
Issuance of necessary documents for registration or resale.
For the end consumer who buys via a shop, all of this happens “behind the scenes”; they only follow the vehicle choice, Max Bid definition and final price.
Average values and how much an auction car costs
Data from 2024 show that the average winning bid at USS auctions was around 1.05 million yen, with a monthly average ranging from approximately 883 thousand to 1.185 million yen over the year.
In practice, for the Japanese buyer, it is common to find something like this (very approximate values, just as reference):
- Popular used kei cars (N Box, Spacia, Tanto etc.)
Typical winning bid: about 300,000 to 1,000,000 yen (depending on year, mileage, grade, history).
- Compacts or hybrids (Corolla, Aqua, Yaris, Prius)
Bids: about 600,000 to 2,000,000 yen.
- Family minivans (Freed, Sienta, Serena etc.)
Bids: about 800,000 to 2,500,000 yen or more.
In addition to the bid, there are other costs:
- Auction house fee (buyer fee).
- Shop or agent commission.
- Domestic transport to the shop or your home.
- Recycling fee, acquisition taxes, registration plate fee.
- Shaken (mandatory inspection) and any repairs needed to pass the inspection.
- Compulsory and voluntary insurance.
In other words, if the winning bid was, for example, 700,000 yen, it is very likely that your total final cost will easily reach 900,000 to 1,000,000 yen or more, depending on the situation.
Who can participate (and how does the average Japanese person fit into this)?
Important point:
The large Japanese car auctions do not accept ordinary individuals as members.
- They are exclusive to companies in the sector, such as resellers and dealerships.
- Anecdotal evidence from residents confirms that you need to have a company, storage space and be linked to the sector to obtain membership.
So, for an ordinary Japanese person, the paths are:
- Buying through a shop with access to auctions
- This is the most common and generally the safest way.
- Using an auction agent that accepts individual clientes-
- These agents act as intermediaries between you and the auctions.
- Using online retail platforms (Yahoo!オークション, Rakuten Car Auction etc.)
- This requires more care, as you have greater responsibility when assessing the car’s condition and the seller.
Step by step for a Japanese buyer to purchase an auction car (via shop or agent)
A practical roadmap:
- Define the total budget, not just the bid
- Include: maximum bid, fees, transport, shaken, insurance, possible repairs.
- A simple rule: have a margin of 10 to 20 percent above the planned bid for unforeseen expenses.
- Choose the type of car
- Kei car if you want lower taxes, easy parking and intensive urban use.
- Compact or hybrid if you drive more on highways and want extra comfort.
- Minivan if you have a large family or need space.
- Talk to a shop or agent and explain what you want
- Model, year range, mileage limit, colour (if it matters), total budget.
- Ask to see sample inspection sheets of similar cars auctioned recently, to get a sense of price.
- Carefully analyse the vehicle inspection sheet
- Pay attention to the grade and the letters on the damage map.
- Check whether there are indications of accident damage, structural repairs or replaced panels.
- Mileage, maintenance history (when available) and detailed photos are very important.
- Agree on the Max Bid (bid ceiling)
- The agent or shop will suggest a bid based on the auction price history.
- You must approve a maximum amount, never give a blank cheque without a limit.
- Follow the result and review the final cost
- If you win the auction, confirm:
- Winning bid.
- Auction fees.
- Shop or agent commission.
- Transport and estimated expenses for shaken and repairs.
- Finalize documentation and insurance
- Transfer of ownership.
- Payment of taxes and fees.
- Insurance policy in place before you start driving.
Tips for evaluating an auction car
Some typical precautions in the Japanese context:
- Prefer higher grades
Cars with grade 4 or higher, clean interiors and no structural repair notations tend to be safer choices (and easier to resell).
- Read rust comments (サビ) carefully
In snowy regions, road salt accelerates corrosion. Check for comments about rust on chassis or structural parts.
- Be wary of very low mileage in very old cars
It can be legitimate, but it is worth checking the inspection and service history.
- Consider the total cost of shaken
Sometimes the car is cheap at auction, but needs a lot of repairs to pass the mandatory inspection, which means the “cheap” car becomes expensive.
- Think about future resale
Very exotic models or those with low demand can be hard to resell later, even if they are in good condition.
Risks and how to reduce them
Main risks
- Buying a car with a serious accident history, poor repairs or compromised structure.
- Underestimating the costs of shaken, taxes, tyres, brakes, suspension.
- Buying models with low liquidity or difficult parts availability.
- In the case of online auctions or marketplaces aimed at consumers, facing the risk of an unreliable seller.
How to reduce them
- Use experienced shops and agents, with good reputation and access to multiple auction houses.
- Always request the complete auction sheet, not just photos.
- Give preference to cars with high grades and no structural repair records.
- Have an additional inspection done when possible, especially if the car comes from a snowy region.
- For Yahoo!オークション / Rakuten, check:
- Seller rating.
- History of listings.
- Clarity of the description (remaining shaken period, maintenance history).
Future outlook: kei cars, electric vehicles and auctions
Kei cars continue to represent around one third of domestic sales and are a focus of attention even for foreign manufacturers, such as BYD, which plans to launch a kei EV aimed at the Japanese market, betting on competitive prices and subsidies.
This indicates that:
- Demand for compact and economical vehicles should remain strong.
- The used market (and, consequently, auctions) should see, in the coming years, a growing number of kei and compact hybrid or electric vehicles entering the circuit.
For Japanese buyers, this means more options at auctions, but also the need to pay attention to battery technology, wear of hybrid or EV systems and long term maintenance costs of these models.
Conclusion
For an ordinary Japanese person, car auctions are, in practice, a system that operates “behind” used car shops and dealerships.
The large auctions (USS, JU, TAA, CAA, Aucnet) concentrate an enormous number of vehicles, with standardised inspections and price history, and offer real opportunities to buy well.
However:
- Direct participation is generally restricted to companies in the sector.
- The natural path is to use shops or agents who know how to read auction sheets, define Max Bid and calculate total cost.
- It is essential to focus on the full cost (bid plus fees plus shaken plus insurance plus maintenance), not just the hammer price.
- Kei cars and economical compacts (N Box, Spacia, Tanto, Corolla, Yaris, Aqua, Sienta etc.) are the favourites in the market and dominate both new sales and the flow of used cars.
With information, good partners and a well defined bid limit, auctions can be an excellent way to find a car suited to your daily life, with good cost benefit and safety.
The main advantage is access to a huge supply of vehicles, with detailed history and, in general, more competitive prices than in many street shops. Auctions concentrate kei cars, compacts, hybrids and minivans in various price ranges, allowing you to find an auction car that best fits your budget.
No. The large auctions (such as USS, JU, TAA, CAA, Aucnet) are, as a rule, restricted to companies in the automotive sector. Individuals usually access this market through dealers, dealerships or agents that are already members of the auction houses.
The most common way is to look for a used car shop or reseller that works with auctions. You provide the desired model, year, mileage and budget, and the dealer searches the auctions, shows options and agrees with you on a maximum bid (Max Bid). It is also possible to use auction agent services that cater to individual clients.
You will see many kei cars (Honda N Box, Suzuki Spacia, Daihatsu Tanto etc.), compacts and hybrids such as Toyota Corolla, Yaris, Aqua, Prius, as well as minivans such as Honda Freed and Toyota Sienta. These models are very popular in the domestic market and therefore also appear frequently as auction cars.
For those looking to save on taxes, insurance and fuel consumption, a kei car bought at auction can make a lot of sense. They are easy to park, have good liquidity and are usually in high demand in the Japanese market. The main caution is to thoroughly evaluate the auction sheet: grade, rust, usage history and repair needs for shaken.
It is a vehicle assessment score that summarises the overall exterior and interior condition. In many auctions, cars receive grades such as 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, along with specific indicators for cars with structural repairs. In general, higher grades indicate a vehicle in better condition, easier to resell and with fewer risks.
Not always. Many dealers buy at auctions and resell with a fair margin, already absorbing the work of selection, transport and documentation. In some cases, it may be worthwhile to pay a little more at a trustworthy shop if that means fewer risks and less hassle. Auctions are usually advantageous when you have a good agent, a clear idea of price and are willing to wait for the right car to appear.
The most common mistake is to focus only on the bid price, ignoring the total cost and the risks. This includes not reading the inspection sheet carefully, not considering shaken, taxes and repairs, blindly trusting a single intermediary and not defining a clear budget limit. Those who research, ask for explanations, compare options and calculate everything calmly tend to have a much safer and more positive experience with auction cars.
