Hard vs. Soft Inquiries: What Really Affects Your Score
There's a lot of fear around credit inquiries: "don't check your score — it'll drop." In reality, it all depends on the type of inquiry. There are two kinds, and mixing them up can cost you.
Soft inquiries — no effect on your score
A soft inquiry happens when you check your own history, or when you receive a pre-approved offer. Employer background checks fall into this category too. Soft inquiries never affect your score and are visible only to you. You can check your own report as often as you want.
Hard inquiries — a small, temporary effect
A hard inquiry happens when you personally apply for credit — a card, an auto loan, a mortgage. It knocks a few points off your score and stays on your report for about two years, though it only affects your score for roughly a year.
If you submit several applications for the same type of loan within a short window (usually 14–45 days) — say, comparing mortgage rates — FICO models typically count that as a single inquiry. So rate shopping doesn't hurt you.
How to avoid racking up unnecessary inquiries
- Don't apply for credit "just in case"
- Don't open several cards in a short window
- Pause new applications before a major loan application
Key takeaways
- Soft inquiries (including checking your own score) don't affect your points
- A hard inquiry knocks off a couple of points for about a year
- Several applications for the same loan type within 2–6 weeks count as one inquiry
- Checking your own report is safe, and you should do it regularly
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