Hot-wiring is the process of bypassing a motor vehicle's ignition switch and thus starting it without the key.
Hot-wiring generally involves connecting the wires which complete the circuit when the key is in the "on" or "ready" position (turning on the fuel pump, ignition system and other necessary components), then touching another wire that connects to the starter.
Listings of wire colors and locations and ignition system schematics may sometimes be found in Internet databases.
[2] Using standard lock picking to start a vehicle is now usually ineffective, since most cars now use immobilisers or transponder key verification.
Conversely, most types of motorcycles are often easier to hot-wire, especially scooters and older naked bikes, which lack advanced security features beyond mechanical locks and conventional ignition switch.