What a Hard Inquiry Does to Your Credit Score
A hard inquiry happens when a lender checks your credit because you applied for credit. According to FICO, one inquiry usually lowers a FICO Score by fewer than five points. FICO Scores only count inquiries from the last 12 months, though the inquiry stays on your credit report for up to two years.
Hard vs soft
| Hard inquiry | Soft inquiry | |
| Happens when | You apply for a card, a loan or sometimes an apartment | You check your own credit, get a preapproval or an employer checks |
| Affects your score | Yes, a little | Never |
| Seen by lenders | Yes | No |
| Needs your permission | Yes | Not always |
Checking your own score or report is always a soft inquiry, including at AnnualCreditReport.com.
When it matters
For most people one inquiry barely matters. It matters more if:
- You have a thin file. With little other history, each item carries more weight.
- Several inquiries land close together for different kinds of credit, such as three new cards in a month.
- You're just below a lender's score cutoff for a better rate on a mortgage or car loan.
Rate shopping is treated as one inquiry
When you shop for a mortgage, car loan or student loan, FICO counts several inquiries for the same kind of loan within a short window as one. The window is 14 to 45 days, depending on the score version. Do your comparing within a couple of weeks.
This doesn't apply to credit cards. Each card application counts separately.
Ways to avoid unnecessary inquiries
- Use preapproval tools. Most card issuers and lenders offer soft-pull checks.
- Ask first whether a credit limit increase or a switch to a different card needs a hard pull.
- Space out card applications by a few months, especially when you're new to credit.
An inquiry you didn't authorize
That can be a sign of identity theft. Check all three reports, dispute any inquiry you don't recognize with the bureau, and consider freezing your credit. A lender needs a legal reason ("permissible purpose") to pull your report. See how to dispute a credit report error.
FAQ
Does checking my own credit hurt it? No. It's a soft inquiry.
Do "prequalified" offers hurt? No. Prequalification uses a soft pull. Applying afterwards is usually a hard pull.
Does a rental application cause a hard inquiry? Sometimes. Ask the landlord or the screening company.
Figures and rules in this article are checked against the official sources below. Where they disagree with us, they win.
- myFICO credit education (inquiries: typically fewer than five points
- counted 12 months
- on report up to 2 years
- rate-shopping window)
- CFPB 'What is a credit inquiry'
- FCRA permissible purpose (15 USC 1681b)
