Are you one of those people who locks their car with a satisfying beep, then takes a couple of steps away only to turn back and tug on the handle again—just to be sure?
I’ll admit, I’ve done it. There’s something about that tiny moment of doubt that tugs at us and says, “Better safe than sorry.”
It’s a small habit, yet it can reveal a lot about our mindset. Here at DM News, we love diving into these everyday behaviors to figure out the mental quirks that might be lurking behind them.
Below, I’m sharing seven common “quirks” I’ve noticed in people who always lock their car, then check it again.
Let’s get right into it.
1. They have a subtle fear of the unknown
First and foremost, the act of double-checking often signals that someone has a healthy (or not-so-healthy) fear of the unknown.
It’s not necessarily a crippling kind of fear. More often, it’s a gentle worry that life is uncertain and that if we’re not careful, something might go wrong.
I remember traveling a few months ago and being in a rush to catch my flight. I locked my car, walked away, then hesitated and thought, “What if I missed something and come back to a window smashed or, worse, the car itself missing?”
That lingering “What if?” wouldn’t let me leave without testing the door handle.
Ironically, one check might have been enough, but for many of us, that second confirmation is what finally settles the nerves.
In a way, it’s our mind’s subtle attempt to guard against the unpredictable. We know we’re probably fine, but the tiny voice of uncertainty makes us double-check.
2. They crave total certainty
While none of us can eliminate every possible risk in life, we still crave certainty. That’s why confirming the car is locked feels so comforting—it provides a sense of finality.
This aligns with something Greg McKeown once wrote: “If you don’t prioritize your life, someone else will.” I interpret it to mean that if we don’t satisfy our own desire for certainty, our worries will prioritize themselves and we’ll end up fixated on them.
That’s when you get those intrusive thoughts like, “Wait, did I really lock it?” even though you heard the chirp just seconds earlier.
People with this quirk tend to seek order and predictability in other areas, too. They often plan their schedules meticulously or keep notes about what they want to accomplish.
And when faced with ambiguous situations, they’d rather err on the side of caution.
Locking the car, then checking it, is just one tangible expression of that deeper urge for complete assurance—something that, let’s be honest, none of us can ever truly have, but we keep trying anyway.
3. They’re detail-oriented perfectionists
There’s a certain perfectionistic streak in folks who re-check everyday tasks, whether it’s making sure they’ve unplugged the iron or confirming the stove is off. So it’s no surprise that these same people tend to double-check the car lock.
Perfectionists don’t like loose ends. They have a strong desire to do things “right” and to leave no margin for error.
Double-checking becomes a habit because a small oversight can feel like a bigger deal to them than it might to someone else. They’re the ones who notice that slightly crooked picture on the wall and can’t rest until it’s straightened out.
I can relate. I’ve mentioned this before in a previous post, but I used to be the kind of guy who would spend twenty extra minutes fiddling with the same line of text in my digital marketing campaigns.
It’s that same itch for precision that can drive you to wiggle the car door handle when, deep down, you know it’s locked.
4. They rely on muscle memory (and then doubt it)
You know how sometimes you arrive at work without fully remembering the drive there?
When we do routine tasks (like locking the car) the same way every day, our brains switch into autopilot. Muscle memory takes over and we don’t consciously register the action.
That autopilot mode is usually helpful—it frees our minds for bigger things. But it can also leave us questioning if we actually completed the task at all.
It’s a paradox: we’re able to do things without thinking, but then we don’t remember if we actually did them. If you’ve ever jiggled the car handle just to jog your own memory, you’re not alone.
5. They worry about looking careless
Let’s be honest: no one wants to be “that person” who leaves their car door unlocked, especially in a busy neighborhood or a crowded city parking lot.
The fear of appearing careless—or worse, irresponsible—can be a powerful motivator to double-check.
Social pressure plays a bigger role in our behavior than we realize. Tim Ferriss has said, “What we fear doing most is usually what we most need to do.”
While he’s often referring to bigger life goals, I think there’s a connection to everyday anxiety about how others perceive us. We don’t want to be seen as the one who neglects basic responsibilities.
Yes, it might be a tiny, trivial moment, but it points to a broader concern: “I don’t want people to think I can’t handle the simplest of tasks.”
I’ve definitely caught myself re-checking the lock when other people were around, just to ensure they see me as someone who has it all together. Ironically, I probably look more anxious than calm and cool—but that’s how our brains operate sometimes.
6. They get a little dopamine hit from confirmation
Ever had that subtle sense of relief wash over you when you hear the door lock engage again, or feel the handle resist your pull?
That tiny “Yes, it’s locked” moment can be oddly satisfying.
Psychologically, this relief can be linked to a small burst of dopamine—the same neurotransmitter that rewards us when we check a box on our to-do list or see a text notification pop up.
We’re wired to seek closure, to tie up loose ends, and to confirm that our actions led to the result we wanted. It’s not so different from hitting “refresh” on your email again (and again) to see if a new message has come in.
The act of double-checking gives a quick payoff. It temporarily quiets the worry and says, “You did the right thing.”
So, from a strictly psychological standpoint, double-checking might feel good—at least in the moment.
The downside is that if we rely on this too much, we can spiral into bigger anxieties. But on a small scale, it’s just our brain’s mini reward system at play.
7. They use the double-check as a small dose of comfort
Last but not least, I think there’s a certain comfort in physically confirming something we “know” we did mentally. It’s like a security blanket.
Dale Carnegie once wrote, “Our fatigue is often caused not by work, but by worry, frustration, and resentment.” Stress can build up when we feel uncertain or uneasy about something.
By physically checking the lock, people relieve a tiny piece of that worry.
For instance, if I’m heading into an important meeting and my mind’s already racing with thoughts, I don’t want the extra stress of “Is my car locked?” floating around.
That second check is one less thing to worry about during the day. It’s comforting in a small, almost silly way, but it can make a difference in how settled we feel overall.
Putting it all together
Double-checking the car lock might seem like a trivial action—just a few seconds of your day. But it can reflect deeper parts of our psyche, from our desire for control and certainty, to perfectionistic tendencies and worries about social judgment.
The takeaway? Recognizing these quirks can help us be gentler with ourselves.
Sure, double-checking might not be the world’s biggest problem, but if it’s a sign of underlying stress or fear of mistakes, it’s worth exploring how else these traits show up in our lives.
I’m not saying you need to stop double-checking your car (especially if it makes you feel safer). But it might be good to ask, “What am I really trying to make sure of here?”
That small moment of introspection could lead you to a better understanding of how you handle uncertainty, perfectionism, and the desire for calm in an unpredictable world.
And hey, if double-checking your locks every now and then helps keep your peace of mind, go for it.
After all, personal growth isn’t about never having quirks—it’s about being aware of them and deciding how they fit into the bigger picture of who you want to be.
Thanks for reading, and as always, here at DM News, we appreciate you taking a closer look at the everyday moments that shape us.
Until next time, lock up, check once—or twice if you must—and carry on with a bit more self-awareness. It’s amazing how much a single beep can reveal.
