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How do you drive a semi-automatic smart car?
I was gifted a semi-automatic smart car by my uncle. It sounds great, but I’ve never driven this type of transmission before. How do I do it? I want to enjoy my new car.
Cassandra Hamilton · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Congratulations on the new car! Driving a semiautomatic smart car is much easier than a fully manual transmission because you don’t have to worry about using a clutch pedal. After reading this guide from
Jerry
you’ll be a semiautomatic pro.- Step 1: Start the car and release the parking brake.
- Step 2: Keeping your foot on the brake, shift the car into Drive and over to Manual (also called “Sport” on some cars).
- Step 3: Begin driving forward with the car in first gear.
- Step 4: Listen to the car’s engine. If it sounds like it’s starting to work hard, move the gearshift towards the + on the panel. Continue upshifting like this as you increase your car’s speed.
- Step 5: Downshift whenever you have to slow down by taking your foot off the gas pedal and moving your gearshift towards the - on the panel.
- Step 6: Keep your eye on your car’s RPMs. Upshift to avoid going above 3,000 and downshift to avoid going below 1,000.
- Step 7: Finished driving? Bring the car to a complete stop, put it in Park, engage the car’s parking brake, and turn off the engine.
Knowing when to shift can be tricky at first, but you’ll get used to listening to your car’s engine as you continue driving your semi-automatic car. But first, make sure you have adequate
car insurance
with a little help from car insurance super app Jerry
! Simply download the app and in less than two minutes, you’ll be choosing from competitive quotes from top providers customized for you. Jerry even lets you tweak the level of coverage you want so you’ll never have to pay too much for coverage you don’t need.
MORE: How to drive stick or manual cars
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- Gregory R.
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Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.
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