Every time someone looks at your credit, it’s recorded. Only some of those checks can affect your score, and usually not by much.
Quick summary
- A hard inquiry happens when you apply for credit and a lender checks your report.
- Soft inquiries, including checking your own credit, don’t affect your score.
- Hard inquiries can stay on your report for two years, but FICO only counts those from the past 12 months.
- Shopping for a mortgage, auto or student loan within a short window is usually counted as one inquiry.
Your credit report keeps a list of who has looked at it. These checks are called inquiries, and they come in two types.
Hard inquiries
A hard inquiry is made when you apply for credit, such as a credit card, auto loan or mortgage, and the lender checks your report to decide.
- It usually appears on your report and can lower your score by a few points.
- It can stay on your report for up to two years.
- FICO scores consider only inquiries from the last 12 months.
Soft inquiries
Soft inquiries happen when your credit is checked without a credit application:
- checking your own report or score
- pre-screened offers from lenders
- many eligibility checks before you apply
- account reviews by lenders you already use
Soft inquiries are visible only to you and don’t affect your score.
| Hard inquiry | Soft inquiry | |
|---|---|---|
| Triggered by | Applying for credit | Checking your own credit, pre-screening |
| Affects your score? | Yes, usually slightly | No |
| Seen by lenders? | Yes | No |
| How long it shows | Up to two years | Only on your own copy |
Rate shopping
Scoring models recognize that people compare offers for big loans. Multiple inquiries for the same type of loan, such as a mortgage, auto loan or student loan, within a short period are generally counted as one. Newer FICO versions use a 45-day window, while some older versions use 14 days, so it’s sensible to do your comparing within about two weeks.
Credit card applications don’t get this treatment. Each one counts separately.
Quick tip
Use eligibility checkers with soft searches before you apply, and space out card applications. That keeps hard inquiries for the applications you’re likely to win.
Red flag
If you see a hard inquiry from a lender you never applied to, it could be a sign of identity theft. Dispute it with the credit bureau and consider a credit freeze.
Keeping inquiries in proportion
Inquiries carry far less weight than payment history and balances. One or two applications a year are unlikely to hold you back. What matters more is paying on time and managing your credit utilization. If you’re new to credit, our guide to building credit from scratch suggests where to start.
Reader questions
How many points does a hard inquiry cost?
Usually only a few, and the effect fades over the following months. Several applications in a short time can have a bigger effect.
Do pre-approval offers hurt my credit?
Pre-screened offers and most eligibility checks use soft inquiries. A full application usually triggers a hard inquiry.
Can I remove a hard inquiry?
Only if it’s inaccurate, for example if you didn’t apply. You can dispute unauthorized inquiries with the credit bureau.
This article is general information, not financial or legal advice. Scoring models, lender policies and laws change, and state rules vary. Check official sources such as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Federal Trade Commission, and consider a nonprofit credit counselor for help with your own situation.