Your credit score affects everything from mortgage rates to insurance premiums. A higher score can save you tens of thousands of dollars over your lifetime. Here’s how to boost it fast.

Pay down credit card balances. Credit utilization — the ratio of your balance to your limit — is the second most important factor. Keep it below 30%, ideally below 10%.

Never miss a payment. Payment history is the #1 factor. Set up autopay for at least the minimum on every account.

Don’t close old accounts. The length of your credit history matters. Keep your oldest card open even if you don’t use it often.

Dispute errors on your report. About 1 in 5 credit reports contain errors. Check yours at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute anything inaccurate.