June 2, 2026

A Coin in Your Car Door Handle Might Be Nothing… Or It Might Be a Warning

What People Claim the “Penny Trick” Does

The rumor is simple, which is part of why it spreads so easily.

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Someone slips a coin—often described as a penny—into the passenger-side door handle.

The goal, according to the story, is to jam that door’s locking mechanism.

Then, when you use central locking (key fob or driver-side lock), one door may not lock properly because it’s obstructed.

Why the passenger side?

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Because many people only test the driver’s door.

They lock the car, hear the beep, see the lights flash, and assume everything is secured.

Whether this works on every car is another question.

Different makes, different handle designs, different lock linkages.

That’s why you’ll hear conflicting opinions: some say it’s possible on certain setups, others say it’s overblown.

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