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What Is a Hard Inquiry on Your Credit Report?
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A hard inquiry (also called a hard pull) occurs when a lender checks your credit report as part of a loan or credit application. Hard inquiries can lower your credit score by 5–10 points and remain on your report for 2 years.
Checking your own score, pre-qualification, employer check, credit monitoring
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No (only you)
How Much Do Hard Inquiries Hurt?
A single hard inquiry typically costs 5–10 points and the impact fades after 12 months (though it stays on your report for 2 years). For someone with a thin credit file or lower score, the impact can be higher. For someone with a long, established credit history, a single inquiry may only cost 2–3 points. Multiple inquiries in a short period can compound the damage.
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When shopping for a mortgage, auto loan, or student loan, FICO treats multiple inquiries within a 14–45 day window as a single inquiry. This allows you to shop for the best rate without penalty. This protection does NOT apply to credit card applications — each card application is a separate hard inquiry.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a hard inquiry stay on your credit report?
Hard inquiries stay on your credit report for 2 years. However, they only affect your credit score for 12 months. After 12 months, the inquiry is still visible to lenders but no longer impacts your score calculation.
Can you remove a hard inquiry from your credit report?
You can only remove unauthorized hard inquiries — ones from lenders you never applied to. Legitimate hard inquiries from applications you made cannot be removed. If you see an inquiry you don't recognize, file a dispute with the credit bureau.
How many hard inquiries is too many?
There's no hard rule, but 6+ hard inquiries in 12 months is generally a red flag to lenders. 1–2 per year is normal. Rate shopping for a single loan (mortgage, auto) within a 45-day window counts as just one inquiry under FICO's rate shopping protection.
Does pre-qualification cause a hard inquiry?
No. Pre-qualification uses a soft pull and does not affect your credit score. Only a formal application triggers a hard pull. Always pre-qualify before applying to check your odds without impacting your score.
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People Also Ask
Focus on the Annual Percentage Rate (APR), which includes both interest and fees. Compare minimum credit score requirements, funding speed, loan amounts, and repayment terms. Read recent customer reviews on Trustpilot and the BBB. Getting pre-qualified lets you see real personalized offers without affecting your credit score.
A score of 670–739 is "good," 740–799 is "very good," and 800+ is "exceptional." Most lenders offer their best rates to borrowers with 720+. If your score is below 670, focus on paying bills on time and reducing credit card balances — these two factors account for 65% of your score.
Credit scores have a dramatic impact on rates. On a $20,000 personal loan, the difference between a 720 score (8% APR) and a 580 score (25% APR) is over $9,000 in additional interest over 5 years. Improving your score before applying can save thousands of dollars.
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