Is a Penny in Your Car Door Handle a Sign of Danger? Experts Debunk This Persistent Urban Legend
From viral social media posts to fear-inducing warning emails, the internet is no stranger to automotive horror stories. Among the many car-related urban legends circulating online, one in particular has stubbornly resurfaced again and again: the tale of a penny wedged into a car door handle—a supposed sign that thieves are lurking nearby, plotting to steal your car.
The story is simple but sinister: a criminal places a penny in the door handle of a parked vehicle, supposedly disabling the electronic locking system. When the unsuspecting driver walks away, thinking their car is safely locked, the thief can allegedly access the vehicle and drive away with ease.
It sounds like something straight out of a crime thriller—or at least a Reddit thread gone viral. But is there any truth to it?
Let’s break down the myth, look at what the experts have to say, and get to the bottom of whether your car is really at risk from loose change in the door handle.
Where the Myth Bega
The rumor first gained traction around 2015, spreading like wildfire on social media platforms and via forwarded emails. The idea behind the myth was that inserting a penny—or another small object—into the passenger-side door handle would somehow jam the lock or confuse the car’s electronic locking system, preventing it from securing the doors properly.
As the legend goes, car thieves would then wait until the driver walked away, sneak into the vehicle, and either steal it or loot its contents.
Photos began to circulate showing pennies visibly wedged into car doors, accompanied by alarming captions: “If you see this on your car, don’t drive off! Call the police immediately—your life may be in danger!”
Needless to say, the story stirred anxiety among drivers, especially women and solo travelers. The myth even sparked warnings from community Facebook pages and local news segments. But as with many urban legends, the fear was disproportionate to the facts.
Debunking the Penny-In-Door Myth
Multiple professional sources have since debunked the penny myth as pure fiction. Mechanics, auto security experts, and car manufacturers alike have weighed in—and the verdict is unanimous: a penny in your door handle can’t disable your locks.
In one key investigation, Snopes, the renowned myth-busting website, reached out to Caliber Collision Repair in New York. The question was direct: can placing a penny in a car’s door handle deactivate its electronic locking mechanism?
Their response? A definitive no.
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