Vehicle condition reports: what the grades actually mean
Excellent, Good, Fair, Poor — used by auctioneers, wholesalers and inspectors. Here's the criteria behind each grade and how to use them when you're buying.
If you've been shopping listings on Carsales, Pickles or Manheim you've seen the words 'Excellent condition' or 'A1' stamped on a hundred ads. They aren't marketing — there's a real industry grading system behind them. Knowing the criteria stops sellers waving a vague 'great condition' line at you with no evidence behind it.
The four-grade system
| Grade | Body & Paint | Interior | Mechanical | Realistic asking-price range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excellent | No dents, no chips, OEM paint match. | No wear, all controls work. | Service history complete, no warning lights, fresh brakes/tyres. | Top 10% of market |
| Good | Minor stone chips, one or two car-park dings. | Light wear on driver's seat bolster. | Mostly serviced, one or two minor advisories. | Around market average |
| Fair | Multiple dings, kerbing, faded plastics. | Stains, broken trim clips, wear on steering wheel. | Service gaps, one or two majors due. | 10-20% below market |
| Poor | Panel damage, rust, mismatched paint. | Smells, tears, missing parts. | Multiple majors, unrecorded history. | Wholesale / trade-in only |
How sellers misuse 'Excellent'
Roughly 60% of private listings we inspect that are described as 'Excellent' grade as 'Good' or 'Fair' under any honest scoring system. The most common gaps:
- Stone chips and bonnet pitting that the seller has decided 'don't count'
- Hidden parking damage on rear quarter panels (not visible from the listing photos)
- Service book missing two stamps that the seller's verbal history glossed over
- Aftermarket tyres that are mismatched brands or different age
What we grade on a Sydney PPI
- 1.Body straightness and panel gaps
- 2.Paint condition (thickness gauge readings for resprays)
- 3.Glass condition (chips, stars, wiper score)
- 4.Interior trim and electronics
- 5.Engine, transmission and driveline behaviour
- 6.Suspension, steering and brake condition
- 7.Underbody and structural integrity
Common questions
Are these grades the same as auction grades?
Close, but not identical. Manheim and Pickles use a 1-6 numeric scale that maps roughly to Excellent (1-2) / Good (3) / Fair (4) / Poor (5-6). Auction grades skew tougher because they're for trade buyers.
Can a Fair-grade car still be worth buying?
Absolutely — if the price reflects the condition and you've budgeted for the known defects. A Fair-grade car at the right price often outperforms a 'polished-up to look Excellent' car at full market.
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