Hotwiring
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Hotwiring is the process of bypassing an automobile's ignition interlock and thus starting it without the key. Although it is not illegal if performed with the consent of the car owner, the activity is usually performed by criminals who intend to steal the vehicle. Hotwiring can also compromise the safety of the car, making it illegal to drive a hotwired car in some countries.
[edit] Method
To know how to hot-wire a vehicle it is important to understand how a vehicle's electrical system works. Instead of using a multimeter or test light, it is often easier to look up the information required. Remote start units will by definition need access to the same wires (and others besides), and there are internet databases with listings of wire colors and locations.
Older vehicles, namely ones from pre mid 80's, which have a carbureted engine and a single ignition coil and distributor, can be hotwired from the engine bay.
Those who lack the basic mechanical skills and knowledge of automotive electrical systems needed to hotwire a car sometimes use a brute-force method to bypass the ignition lock, smashing the key mechanism to reveal the rotation switch, which is operated by the key's tumbler.
[edit] Other
It is possible that the increased difficulty of hotwiring has led to the rise in carjacking in other ways, such as stealing car keys. However, security and insurance experts agree that most auto thefts can be deterred by employing common sense safety methods, such as never leaving spare keys in plain sight (or keeping spare keys inside the vehicle).
