Thanks to the magic of modern tech, many car insurance companies now allow drivers to use a telematics app that tracks driving habits in real time and reports the results to the insurance company.

Here are some of the most popular telematics programs:

Snapshot from Progressive

Drivesense from Esurance

(Allstate)

SmartRide from Nationwide

RightTrack from Liberty Mutual

DriveEasy from GEICO

Drive Safe and Save from State Farm

Jerry

DriveShield™

While that kind of surveillance might make you nervous, the average savings—as much as 30 to 40% off the cost of your policy, according to Consumer Reports—might put you at ease.

Keep in mind: Some telematics programs, like Snapshot and DriveEasy, can actually increase your rate if you can’t prove that you’re a safe driver.

MORE:

What is a safe driver discount?

2. Buy a (safe) used car: 3.4% per year

Research shows that the cost of car insurance drops by 3.4% with every year a vehicle ages. If you’re in the market for a new vehicle, buying used could significantly lower your insurance costs.

Look for a used vehicle with strong

safety ratings

and

anti-theft features

. Insurance companies may discount your policy if they know you’re driving a vehicle that’s less likely to generate high-priced claims.

You can also get a discount for installing an anti-theft device in your vehicle to up your security.

3. Raise your deductible: 7–28%

If you have

collision coverage

comprehensive coverage

on your car insurance policy, raising your deductible is an easy way to cut down on your monthly costs.

Your car insurance deductible is the amount you agree to pay before insurance kicks in on a comprehensive or collision claim. The lower it is, the more you’ll pay to maintain the policy.

Raising a $500 deductible to $1,000 or more could save you money without sacrificing coverage—but make sure not to

choose a higher deductible

than you couldn’t realistically pay in the event of an accident.

Take note: You may have a deductible cap for a financed or leased vehicle—usually $1,000.

4. Bundle car and home insurance: 6–26%

You’ve heard it from Flo; you’ve heard it from the gecko—and it’s true. Bundling

homeowners insurance

renters insurance

with your auto insurance policy could save you a ton of money.

The exact savings vary, but Forbes estimates that

bundling home and auto insurance

saves drivers between 6 and 26%. If you only have renters insurance, you won’t be able to save as much by bundling, but a 2–9% discount isn’t nothing.

MORE:

10 best companies for home and car insurance

5. Pay in full and go digital: 9–22%

Here’s another easy one: if you’ve got the necessary funds, pay your annual premium in a one-time lump sum instead of monthly payments.

paid-in-full discount

could save you as much as 10 to 20% on your policy, and opting for

electronic payments

(or paperless billing) instead of a written check could add an extra discount of about 3 to 6%.

6. Improve your credit: 14–17%

Now for a harder “hack.” If your state permits insurance companies to consider credit, your

credit score

can have a major impact on your auto insurance rates.

Raising your credit score by even a single tier could save you around 15% on your insurance.

That’s a lot easier said than done, but it’s possible to

raise your score quickly

, maybe even

without a credit card

! If you’re willing to go through a program like Experian Boost, you can do things like pay your utility bills—and get those bills added to your credit report—to increase your score quickly.

7. Keep continuous coverage: 10–15%

Sometimes all you need to do to save money on car insurance is—nothing! Most insurance companies offer discounts to drivers who maintain

continuous insurance coverage

for a certain period.

If you’ve had continuous coverage for almost six months, one year, three years, or five years, you might see cheaper rates coming your way soon.

If you’re planning to sell your car and stick to public transportation temporarily, look into

non-owner car insurance

to avoid a

lapse in coverage

that could cost you more in the long run.

8. Take a defensive driving course: 5–10%

If you have

traffic violations

on your driving record, you’re probably paying higher car insurance rates. In some cases, a

defensive driving course

could wipe those points off your record and get you better rates again.

Look into your state’s regulations and check with your insurance company before you enroll in a defensive driving course. In many cases, defensive driving discounts only apply to drivers over 55. If you have younger drivers listed as primary drivers on your policy, your discount might not apply.

9. Park in a garage: 5%

One more modest hack is to park your car in a garage rather than on the street. If you have comprehensive coverage with a qualifying company, some insurance companies will give you a discount for the added security of a garage, which protects your vehicle from the elements as well as would-be thieves.

10. Compare quotes online: 30% or more

We’ve saved the best for last. Comparing car insurance quotes is the quickest—and often very best—way to find the lowest rates on the coverage you need.

Auto insurance premiums aren’t the same across the insurance industry. While one company might give you a high rate for even basic liability coverage due to past accidents, another might look past that car accident and offer you a lower rate.

You could call each auto insurance company to get quotes manually, or you could have a comparison app like

Jerry

do it for you.

Jerry’s RateWise™ tool can help you compare up to dozens of policies in real time. In just a few minutes, you can switch to a better policy and save an average of over $800 a year!

You should always compare quotes when you get

a new car

, move to a

new ZIP code

, or make any changes to your household (e.g. marriage, divorce,

adding a teen driver

). If you have questions about your coverage needs, Jerry has a team of licensed insurance agents available to help.