Our home may be our castle, but for many people, their car is an extension of themselves. According to a study cited by Juliet Schor in her book, The Overspent American, nearly half of all car owners see their car as a reflection of who they are.

The belief that we are what we drive, coupled with the auto industry’s heavy use of planned obsolescence—the yearly rollout of new models with “must-have” new features—often leaves us on the vehicle financing treadmill.

We tend to build short-term relationships with our vehicles and long-term relationships with our vehicles’ loan officers.

The latest evidence that this approach isn’t working out too well came via Federal Reserve data earlier this year, which shows that the number of people with an auto loan who are more than 90 days late on their payments is at its highest level since 2010. The average car loan now costs $745 per month and stretches past six years

Even for those who aren’t behind on their payments, having a car loan is a hinderance to a well-functioning financial life, putting a damper on generosity, saving, and financial margin.

A better approach to buying cars is to build long-term relationships with our vehicles and avoid vehicle loan officers.

I recommend keeping a car for at least 15 years past its model year. The financial freedom that brings is far more beneficial than the short-lived thrill of driving a car with temperature-controlled cup holders. Here are some guidelines for how to break the cycle of financing cars.

1. Buy, don’t lease. Although you may pay less each month for a leased car than you would for a car you buy and finance, you won’t own anything at the end of the lease. You’ll just have to start making payments on another vehicle. In order to have the margin to be generous, save and invest, it helps a lot to have no monthly car payment.

2. If you’re currently making payments on a vehicle loan, keep making those payments even after your vehicle is paid off. Just send them to a savings account instead of your lender. If you can afford the payment today, you can afford it once the loan is paid off.

Then keep that vehicle until it is at least 15 years past its model year. When your vehicle is ready to be replaced you’ll have plenty of money to buy your next one with cash.

3. When it comes time to get another vehicle, it’s usually best to go for a well-maintained used car (but not always). Even vehicles used by dealers for test drives or loaners will be less expensive than a brand-new car. But vehicles that are one to two years old are where you can find low-mileage vehicles at a nice discount.

Still, if you’re paying cash and planning to keep your vehicle for 15 years or more, buying new may make sense.

4. When deciding which car to buy, choose one known for reliability. Consumer Reports lists its picks for the best used vehicles at various price points, starting at under $10,000. (You’ll have to buy a Consumer Reports membership, but you can buy a one-month membership for $10 and then cancel.)

5. Consider all the costs. Some cars are more expensive than others to insure and maintain. When the exhaust system goes out on a dual-exhaust car, for example, it’s going to cost a lot more than it would on a car with a single-exhaust system.

Edmunds.com has a helpful True Cost to Own calculator that enables you to compare vehicles going back to 2019 based on the costs of fuel, insurance, maintenance, replacement parts, and depreciation. Call your insurance agent to get quotes on a few cars you’re considering as a point of comparison to what the Edmunds web site tells you.

There are certainly no moral prohibitions against heated seats or headlight wipers. However, moving through life without a vehicle payment will go a long way toward helping you live with financial freedom. Your car may not be able to parallel park itself, but you’ll get by.