Man Confused After Finding Strange Compartment In His Car, Asks What It's For

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A car's dashboard lit up at night
Unsplash | Randy Tarampi

Mysteries come in many sizes and styles: big mysteries, small mysteries, unsolved mysteries and inherently solvable mysteries.

If you're burnt out on true crime and dark stories, try this mystery on for size: a man who's been driving the same Chevy Tahoe for more than 10 years who can't figure out what the mystery slot on his dashboard is for.

We'll solve this mystery by the end of the article.

Car dashboards are full of surprises.

Interior of a car
Unsplash | Martin Katler

You'll always find the basic controls your car needs to operate, but on most cars, there are at least a few unusual stylistic choices. My first car just had a big hole under the radio, with no rhyme or reason as to its purpose.

This guy's dashboard is weird, and he wants answers.

Still from Facebook video asking what car compartment is for
Facebook | Ethereal in E

A video posted to Facebook by Ethereal in E asks the purpose of a weird little slot just to the left of the steering wheel on his car's dashboard. He's been driving the car for more than a decade and still has no idea what it's for.

He asks if it's for credit cards.

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Facebook | Etheral in E

Sure, credit cards fit easily into that slot, but it's a ridiculous notion. I mean, there's already a spot for credit cards: it's called a wallet or purse. Heck, if you use payment apps, you can just leave your cards at home.

Others shared stories of mysterious car features.

Comments on Facebook video about car compartments
Facebook | Ethereal in E

I don't have a red button in my car, I have a green button. It says "Econ." Pressing it is supposed to be good for the environment, but I haven't noticed anything. All that I'm sure of is that no car would have a credit card holder in the dashboard.

Yeah, I don't think so.

Comments on Facebook video about car compartments
Facebook | Ethereal in E

Some users pointed out that payment tickets are important for Japan's toll roads. That may be the case, but this guy is driving a Chevy Tahoe — an American car. I don't think that slot is for credit cards.

Just like I predicted, the slot is for credit cards.

Explanation for car compartment
Facebook | Amber Johnson

As I suspected all along, the slot is explicitly designed for credit cards. I mean, it makes perfect sense: it's nice to have immediate access when you're driving. I never had any doubts about this.

The mystery has been solved.

Hand holding credit cards
Unsplash | Avery Evans

Do cars need to have a credit card slot? Definitely not. But if there's leftover space on the dashboard, space that's otherwise unused, why not put a little credit card slot in there? Sure, some people will wonder for years on end what it's for, but others (like me) will get it right away.

Easter egg alert!

Easter egg in Facebook video (Jenny, 867-5309)
Facebook | Ethereal in E

Some commenters were less fixated on the credit card slot and more interested by the pink Post-it note on the car's windshield. Zoom in and it's a reference to the song "867-5309/Jenny", which you'll totally understand if you're old like me.

What other mysteries are our cars hiding?

A 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe
Wikimedia Commons | Kevauto

If you take a look around your car, it's full of random slots and levers and knobs and stuff with no clear purpose. Tell us about the most baffling dashboard feature you've ever seen on a car in the comments section.