As you already know, one can't start a car with an automatic transmission without the gear shift lever being in "Park" or, in some cars in "Neutral". In U.S. cars (and I expect, in British and European models) there is a starter safety switch to assure that the engine can only be started as described above. This switch can, over time, be misaligned or otherwise slightly out of its normal position for starting since it is adjacent to the actual key starting switch. One can place the shift lever in "D" or "N", turn the key to the start position, and move the shift lever back and forth to its limits. This will, often, engage the safety switch and allow the engine to be started. This is called 'kick starting', at least here in the U.S.