The playable map in Project Zomboid is huge, and while players can run from one end to the other, no one should consider doing so outside of a challenge run. Luckily, most of the cars in the game still work, and if you can't find the keys to one, you can always hotwire it.
Hotwiring a car is not as difficult as it sounds. Players are often just a few button presses away from securing a great ride, but there are a few requirements you must meet before you can start collecting cars. You don't necessarily have to use the best build-in Project Zomboid To do this, keep these requirements in mind the next time you feel the urge to start jacking vehicles.

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How does hotwiring work in Project Zomboid?
If you successfully hotwire a car, you can drive it around as long as it has a full tank of fuel and is in good condition, even without having the correct keys for it. Before you can do that, however, You must have at least level 1 knowledge in electrical engineering and level 2 knowledge in mechanics. Alternatively, you can select the “Burglar” profession during character creation – this will allow you to hotwire vehicles without the above skill requirements.
How to hotwire a car in Project Zomboid
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Enter the vehicle.
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Open the vehicle radial menu (default key is V).
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Select the “Hotwire” option and wait a few seconds.
Once your character meets one of the above requirements, perform these three steps on any working vehicle you can board. The actual act of short-wiring is done automatically by your character. Once he completes the process, press W to start the vehicle's engine. Note that not all vehicles have fuel in the tank, so you should add some gasoline Project Zomboid Just in case.
How to improve your electrical and mechanical skills
If you don't want to start out as a burglar, you can manually increase your electrical and mechanical skills by completing certain in-game activities. To get XP for these skills, do the following:
- Electrics: Disassemble electronic devices such as digital clocks, radios and televisions.
- Mechanics: Remove and reinstall mechanical parts
Reading books and magazines can also improve your skills. You can find some as you explore homes and commercial establishments. Mailboxes, storage sheds, and bookshelves typically contain numerous readable items. So be sure to check these while looting buildings. If you are hosting Project Zomboid To log in to the server as an administrator and give players skill XP directly, use the /addxp command and follow the syntax shown in the chat box.
If you want to disassemble or install things, you will need a screwdriver or a more suitable tool. You can remove parts of a vehicle by right-clicking on it and selecting the Vehicle Mechanics option.