Hard vs. Soft Inquiries

A hard inquiry is recorded when you apply for credit and a lender pulls your report to decide. A soft inquiry happens when you check your own file, a lender pre-screens you, or an employer runs a background check - soft inquiries never affect your score.

Why it matters

Applications are the one report activity you fully control. Knowing which pulls cost you points - and which cost nothing - keeps you from accidentally dinging your file while shopping.

Key facts

• Hard inquiries stay on your report for two years but only factor into FICO scores for the first 12 months.
• Rate-shopping for one mortgage, auto, or student loan within a short window (14-45 days depending on the scoring model) is grouped and scored as a single inquiry.
• Soft pulls include checking your own report, pre-approval offers, and account reviews by existing creditors.
• You can dispute a hard inquiry you never authorized - it can signal identity theft.

In practice

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