If you're looking at privately-advertised used cars, the description is entirely reliant on the honesty and knowledge of the current owner, which may or may not be accurate. It is perfectly possible that many people own an automatic but have no idea if it is a semi-automatic or a conventional auto.

Once you've identified a car you are interested in, we would suggest searching for a review on the Honest John website, which has thousands of reviews of new and older cars. It also includes a comprehensive specification section which will explain what type of automatic gearbox it has.

It's also worth mentioning that the term semi-automatic can mean different things to different people. For example, a conventional automatic with the option of manual control or an automated manual which uses electronics to change gears rather than a clutch and a manual lever could both be described as semi-automatic.