What Does A Coin In The Car Door Mean

Some urban legends involving cars just won’t die. You’ve seen them online, spreading virally across social media, inspiring fright in concerned consumers. That’south considering parking lots tin be scary places. One myth virtually parked cars and coins in door handles keeps surfacing. According to the fable, finding a penny wedged into a car door handle signifies something sinister. Or does it?

Some of the urban legends about cars are downright terrifying. Take, for instance, the i about the stick figure family unit decals targeting people for sexual activity trafficking. That story circulated wildly on TikTok and Facebook, inspiring fright among the thousands of families who thought information technology would be trendy to put those annoying decals in the rear windows.

Some other sexual activity trafficking-related urban legend almost cars involves zip ties or wires tied to car door handles. Unsuspecting motorists would render to their parked vehicles to discover a wire on the handle. While the victim was distracted when trying to remove information technology, the aggressor would dive in and kidnap the person. At least that’s what some TikTok videos claimed. Simply that myth has since been debunked.

What about the coin in a car door handle myth?

Some other urban legend involves coins jammed into motorcar door handles. Criminals supposedly wedge coins between the door handle and the trunk to “override the car’south automated locking mechanism,” Snopes reports. This story began circulating in 2015 every bit the “new way” for machine thieves to steal parked vehicles.

In another scenario, thieves would apply these well-placed coins in automobile door handles to return hours later, at your house, to commit their ultimate criminal offense. The would-be villain would then have more time and admission to your vehicle if valuables were present and potential admission to your dwelling house.

During its investigation into the urban fable, Snopes contacted mechanics and professionals about the details of this supposed new way to steal cars. The fact-checking website contacted Quotient Collision Repair in New York to ask if putting a coin in a car door handle would disable any type of electronic locking mechanism or warning. Not only did the mechanics express joy, but they as well said no such action would deactivate a vehicle’s locking system. Considering the fundamental fob locking machinery would still be intact, coins or anything wedged in the door handle wouldn’t affect whether the automobile locked.

Snopes also spoke with Arnold Chevrolet Buick in New York to ask the same questions about the rumor. That mechanic likewise chuckled and said it would exist “implausible” for such a scheme to work.

Only what well-nigh a white towel or purse tied to a car?

Coins and wires tied to your auto door handle might be myths. Just if y’all see a white bag or white towel tied to a motorcar door handle, side mirror, or another outside car office, know that it means something. Vehicles in parking lots or on the side of the road might accept these specific add together-ons for an important reason.

We recently shared some Reddit discussions nigh how stranded drivers leave their vehicles with white towels or plastic bags to signify they oasis’t abased their cars. Because some states allow anyone to merits an abandoned or unmarked vehicle, the bag can be an in-the-moment method for marking the ride. White towels and bags are too great for flagging authorities or towing professionals.

So, if yous see an object affixed to your car door handle in the parking lot, it’s probably but a prank. Don’t fret or worry about coins, wires, or stick-figure decals. Nevertheless, it’due south always skillful to remain alert when returning to your parked car.