A hard inquiry (or “hard pull”) occurs when you apply for new credit and a lender checks your full credit report to decide whether to approve you. Common triggers include:
- Credit card applications
- Auto loans
- Mortgages
- Personal loans
- Some apartment rental applications
- Requests for a credit limit increase, depending on the issuer
Hard inquiries typically lower your score by a small amount — often fewer than 5 points — and stay on your report for two years, though they generally only affect scoring models for about 12 months.
What Is a Soft Inquiry?
A soft inquiry (or “soft pull”) occurs when your credit is checked but not tied to a lending decision you’re actively applying for. Examples include:
- Checking your own credit score or report
- Preapproved credit card or loan offers
- Employment background checks (with your permission)
- An existing lender reviewing your account periodically
Soft inquiries never affect your credit score, and they’re often not visible to lenders — only to you, on your own report.
Hard vs. Soft Inquiry at a Glance
| Hard Inquiry | Soft Inquiry | |
|---|---|---|
| Triggered by | Applying for new credit | Checking your own score, preapprovals, background checks |
| Affects your score | Yes, usually a small, temporary dip | No |
| Visible to lenders | Yes | No, only to you |
| Stays on report | About 2 years | Varies, doesn’t impact scoring |
Do Multiple Hard Inquiries Always Hurt More?
Not always. Scoring models generally group multiple inquiries for the same type of loan — like rate shopping for a mortgage or auto loan — within a short window (typically 14 to 45 days, depending on the model) and count them as a single inquiry. This lets you compare rates without being penalized for each individual check. This grace period usually doesn’t apply to credit card applications, so spacing those out is still a good idea.
How to Limit Hard Inquiries
- Only apply for credit you actually need.
- Use preapproval or prequalification tools when available — these typically use a soft inquiry.
- Space out credit card applications rather than applying for several at once.
- Rate-shop for loans within a short window to take advantage of inquiry grouping.
- Check your own credit as often as you like; it’s always a soft inquiry and doesn’t cost you anything.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a hard inquiry lower your score?
Usually less than 5 points, though the exact impact depends on your overall credit profile. A single inquiry rarely causes a significant drop on its own.
How long do hard inquiries stay on your credit report?
About two years, though most scoring models only factor them in for around the first 12 months.
Does checking my own credit score count as a hard inquiry?
No. Checking your own score or report is always a soft inquiry, no matter how often you do it.
Can I remove a hard inquiry from my report?
Only if it’s inaccurate or unauthorized. You can dispute an inquiry you don’t recognize the same way you’d dispute any credit report error.
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