Auction condition reports: reading damage grades
How to read auction condition reports: damage grades, photos, paint readings, tyre and service data, and how to price reconditioning before bidding.
· 7 min read
An auction condition report is the inspection record published for each car: photos, damage listed by panel, paint thickness readings, tyre tread depths, service and document status, warning lights and sometimes a road-test note, often summarised in an overall grade. For a dealer buying unseen, it is the basis of the reconditioning budget. Read it as a cost list and check what it does not cover.
What does an auction condition report include?
Most European auction condition reports contain the same core sections, even if layout and terminology differ:
| Section | Typical content | What to look for |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle data | VIN, first registration, mileage, engine, gearbox, equipment | Mismatch with documents or photos |
| Photos | All sides, interior, wheels, damage close-ups, odometer | Missing angles – roof, underside, boot floor |
| Damage list | Panel-by-panel: scratches, dents, chips, cracks, with size | Number of panels affected, not only the worst item |
| Paint readings | Thickness per panel in microns | Panels much thicker than the rest |
| Tyres | Brand, size, tread depth per tyre, season | Mixed brands, depth near the legal limit |
| Mechanical notes | Warning lights, noises, engine start, sometimes road test | "Not driven" or "engine start only" |
| Documents and keys | Registration, service book, number of keys, CoC | One key, missing Part II |
| Estimated repair cost | Some platforms add a cost per item | Workshop rates in the inspector's country |
| Overall grade | Number or letter | Use as a filter, not a price |
The format of the inspection matters as much as the content. A report by an independent inspection company is usually more consistent than one written by the seller; a report with a road test tells you far more than one with an engine start only. More on judging unseen cars is in online vehicle auctions.
How are damage grades used at European auctions?
Damage grades are shorthand for how much cosmetic and structural work a car needs. Many auctions give an overall grade on a numeric or letter scale, and many grade individual damage items by type and size – for example a scratch through the clear coat versus into the primer, or a dent under or over a stated diameter.
There is no single European standard. Each auction house or platform uses its own scale, and the same car could get different grades from different inspectors. To use grades across platforms:
- Learn each platform's definitions. Read the grading guide once and keep it.
- Translate grades into money. Track what cars of each grade actually cost you to prepare.
- Read the item list, not the headline. A good overall grade with eight small items can cost more than a weaker grade with one panel to paint.
- Look for structural notes. Chassis, sills, pillars and airbag deployment matter more than any grade.
For car dealers
Know your margin before you buy
MyCarDealer compares any car from an auction or listing with the market in your country and shows the net margin after VAT, transport and costs – and the maximum bid.
Request accessHow reliable are auction condition reports?
Reliable for what they measure, silent on what they do not. Photos, panel damage lists, paint readings and tyre depths are usually accurate. What reports miss most often:
- Mechanical faults that appear only when driving – gearbox shift quality, clutch judder, suspension knocks, turbo whistle.
- Intermittent electronic faults that are not stored or were cleared.
- Smells – smoke, damp, pets.
- Underbody damage and corrosion without a lift inspection.
- Previous repairs of good quality – a well-painted panel can look perfect in photos.
Check the claims rules before you bid. Platforms typically allow only a short period after delivery to report differences from the report, and only for defined categories, often above a minimum value. If something is outside those categories, it is your risk.
Reading paint thickness and tyre data
Paint and tyre readings are the most objective numbers in a report.
Paint thickness. Compare panels with each other rather than with a fixed figure. Factory paint on a given car is fairly uniform; a panel reading two or three times higher than its neighbours has usually been refinished, and very high readings can indicate filler. A single refinished bumper is normal; several thick panels on one side suggest an accident. Plastic panels and aluminium may not be measured, so note where readings are missing.
Tyres. Directive 89/459/EEC sets a minimum tread depth of 1.6 mm in the main grooves for passenger cars across the EU. Many dealers replace tyres well before that for retail – a car with 3 mm of tread will need tyres soon after sale. Mixed brands on one axle, old tyres by date code and wrong-season tyres are further costs.
How should damage in the report change my bid?
Turn every item in the report into a cost line, add a reserve for what the report could not see, and deduct the total from your bid. A worked example with assumed workshop prices:
| Report item | Planned work | Assumed cost |
|---|---|---|
| Front bumper scratches into primer | Smart repair | €180 |
| Dent in rear door, no paint damage | Paintless dent removal | €120 |
| Two alloy wheels kerbed | Wheel refurbishment | €160 |
| Tyres 3 mm front, 4 mm rear | Two new tyres | €260 |
| Service overdue | Service with oil and filters | €250 |
| One key only | Second key | €300 |
| Interior wear, driver seat bolster | Valet and seat repair | €200 |
| Reserve for unseen faults (no road test) | – | €400 |
| Total deduction | €1,870 |
Use your own workshop's real prices: the example only shows the method. Some platforms publish repair estimates; check whether they use workshop rates from the inspector's country, which may differ from yours. The full process for budgeting preparation is in reconditioning costs for used cars.
Then deduct this total, plus VAT, fees, transport and profit, from the expected selling price in your market to get the maximum bid. MyCarDealer calculates the market price and net margin after VAT and costs for each lot, so you only have to add the reconditioning figure from the report; dealers can apply via request access. The general bidding method is in car bid strategy.
A quick checklist before every bid
- Are all photos present, including roof, wheel arches and boot floor?
- Was the car driven, or only started?
- Is the mileage consistent with service entries and inspection dates?
- How many keys, and are the registration documents and CoC available?
- Which panels have high paint readings, and do they line up with an accident pattern?
- Are tyres near the legal minimum or mismatched?
- What does the platform allow you to claim after delivery?
Frequently asked questions
What does an auction condition report include?
Vehicle data and VIN, photos, a panel-by-panel damage list, paint thickness readings, tyre tread depths, mechanical notes and warning lights, document and key status, sometimes estimated repair costs and an overall grade.
How are damage grades used at European auctions?
Each auction or platform uses its own grading scale for the overall car and for individual damage items. There is no single European standard, so learn each platform's definitions and translate grades into your actual reconditioning costs.
How reliable are auction condition reports?
Accurate for photos, visible damage, paint and tyre readings, but limited for driving faults, intermittent electronics, smells, underbody damage and good previous repairs. Add a risk reserve, larger when the car was not road-tested.
How should damage in the report change my bid?
Convert each damage item into a repair cost at your workshop's prices, add a reserve for what the report cannot show, and deduct the total, with VAT, fees, transport and profit, from your expected selling price to get the maximum bid.
What tyre tread depth is legal in the EU?
Directive 89/459/EEC sets a minimum of 1.6 mm in the main grooves for passenger cars. For retail, many dealers replace tyres well before that, so budget for tyres when the report shows around 3 mm or less.