Cars Remain a Status Symbol, but Price and Convenience Are Becoming More Important

Cars are still widely seen today as a symbol of status and success — a way to showcase personal achievements or project a certain image, says psychologist Erikas Siudikas. However, the situation is gradually changing: high upfront costs, rapid depreciation, and constant unexpected expenses are encouraging people to seek more rational mobility solutions. Representatives of the car subscription industry are noticing these shifts as well, with a growing number of customers prioritizing practicality, flexibility, and predictable monthly costs over ownership itself.

Lithuanians are particularly passionate about cars: according to various estimates, there are approximately 550–600 passenger vehicles per 1,000 residents in the country, placing Lithuania among the leading nations in the European Union by this measure.

Psychologist and psychotherapist Erikas Siudikas notes that the feeling of ownership remains very important to us, and as a relatively expensive possession, a car has naturally become a way to demonstrate social status.

“We are a culture that highly values ownership. Owning an apartment. Owning a house. Owning a summer home. Owning a good car. Owning more than we actually need. And often, this desire to own reflects not a genuine necessity, but a wish to signal success: ‘Look, I’ve made it.’ In many cases, this is no longer about the car itself. If a person buys an expensive car because they can truly afford it, there is nothing wrong with that. But when someone purchases a luxury vehicle using their last savings, takes on major leasing obligations, and feels the need to appear more successful than they really are, the car becomes not a symbol of success, but a sign of inner captivity,” he says.

According to the psychologist, cars reflect status in many countries — this is not exclusively a Lithuanian phenomenon. However, in his view, the desire to showcase achievements through material possessions remains particularly strong in Lithuanian society.

“In Western countries, status signalling exists as well, but practicality is often valued more highly there. A car may be expensive, comfortable, and high-quality, but it does not necessarily become the main proof of a person’s worth. Here, however, the mindset that ‘if I have a good car, it means I am somebody’ is still very much alive,” E. Siudikas observes.

Attitudes Are Changing

Ainė Martinkėnaitė-Martyniuk, Head of Modus Mobility, the company managing the car subscription service MyBee, notes that although the sense of ownership remains deeply rooted among Lithuanians, more and more drivers in recent years have started to approach mobility more pragmatically.

“These trends are particularly visible in the car subscription market. Drivers increasingly choose this model to avoid the day-to-day responsibilities that come with owning a vehicle — customers no longer need to worry about maintenance, insurance, tire changes, or other unavoidable processes themselves. In essence, you use the car as if it were your own, but with significantly less hassle. We are seeing a growing number of customers who value not ownership itself, but practicality, flexibility, and, most importantly, predictable costs. While businesses were the first to recognize the value of such services, today private customers are increasingly embracing them as well,” says the MyBee representative.

Long-term car subscription services are becoming an increasingly popular alternative to traditional car ownership, especially among drivers looking for flexibility, lower upfront costs, and an all-inclusive monthly payment.

Explore currently available subscription cars from MyBee here.

These changes are especially noticeable among younger generations. Research by Deloitte shows that for Millennials and Generation Z, prestige is becoming secondary — what matters most to them is affordability, convenience, and flexibility.

Attachment to Possessions Can Become Limiting

E. Siudikas says that today we often own more than we truly need, and every additional possession ties us down in one way or another.

“If you own a summer house, you have to maintain it. If you own a large home, you have to sustain it. If you own an expensive car, you have to cover leasing payments, insurance, and repair costs. The more possessions you have, the more responsibilities you carry. We sometimes believe that owning more means having more freedom. But very often, the opposite is true. The more you own, the more attached you become,” he explains.

He also notices that this mindset is gradually changing with the younger generation — practicality and the desire for freedom are slowly overtaking the need to display material success.

“Younger people increasingly ask themselves: do I really need to own something, or is it enough simply to use it? Do I need possessions, or do I need freedom, mobility, and experiences? That said, I don’t want to idealize the situation. Status signalling has not disappeared. It has simply changed its form,” the psychologist says.

Finally, the specialist emphasizes that true personal maturity reveals itself when people stop competing with others and begin valuing not the external image of success, but their inner peace and overall quality of life.

“A more mature person lives less for the impression they create on others. They feel less need to outperform, defeat, or prove something to someone. Instead, they begin asking themselves: what do I truly need? What gives me peace? What helps me feel alive, rather than merely appear successful? Because a successful person is not someone who owns expensive things. A successful person is someone who feels calm, happy, and alive inside,” the psychologist concludes.

Drivers today are increasingly searching for practical alternatives to car ownership that provide convenience, predictable expenses, and flexibility without long-term financial commitments.

Discover how MyBee long-term car subscription works and find a car that fits your lifestyle here.