Guide
Free vs Paid Auction Sheet Translation: What You Actually Need
Short answer: Translating a Japanese auction sheet should be free — a purpose-built tool reads the grade, mileage, damage and comments from a photo at no cost. What's worth paying for is verification: pulling the original auction record to confirm the sheet is genuine. Paying only to translate is paying for something you can get free.
Many services charge $5 to $15 just to translate an auction sheet. Before you pay, understand what you're actually buying — and what you're not.
What translation gives you (should be free)
- The grade and interior grade, explained.
- Mileage at auction.
- The damage-map codes decoded by location.
- The inspector's comments in English.
All of this comes free from the auction sheet translator. Charging for it is charging for a photo read.
What verification gives you (worth paying for)
- The original auction record pulled for the chassis — so you can see the sheet wasn't doctored.
- An odometer-rollback check across every auction appearance.
- For Australian buyers, a PPSR/NEVDIS check — stolen, written-off, finance owing.
That's the part that actually protects your money.
Translate free, then verify a sheet: start at the free translator and confirm the record before you bid.
The honest comparison
| Free translation | Paid verification | |
|---|---|---|
| Reads grade, mileage, damage, comments | ✅ | ✅ |
| Explains the codes for a buyer | ✅ | ✅ |
| Confirms the sheet is genuine | ❌ | ✅ |
| Checks the original auction record | ❌ | ✅ |
| PPSR/NEVDIS (Australia) | ❌ | ✅ |
The takeaway
Don't pay to translate — that's free. Pay to verify, because a translated fake is still a fake. See how auction sheets get faked and free vs paid auction sheet check.
FAQ
Should I pay to translate an auction sheet?
No — translation is free with the right tool. Pay only to verify the sheet against the original record.
Why do some services charge $5–$15 to translate?
Often because a person translates by hand. A purpose-built tool does it free and instantly.
What's actually worth paying for?
Verification — confirming the grade, mileage and comments match the original auction record.
Ready to check a car? Pull the original Japanese auction sheet and your Australian PPSR & NEVDIS check in one report — verify auction sheet.