Whenever someone looks at your credit file, the bureaus record it. Some of those checks are routine and harmless, and some tell other lenders you have applied for credit. Knowing the difference lets you apply when it suits you.
The two kinds
Soft inquiry
- You check your own file
- A lender sends you a pre-approved offer
- An employer or landlord checks with your permission, depending on the type
Hard inquiry
- You apply for a credit card, loan or mortgage
- A lender pulls your file to decide
- Can lower your score by a few points for a time
- Soft inquiry
- A check that is not tied to a new credit application. It is visible only to you.
- Hard inquiry
- A check made when you apply for credit. It appears on your report and other lenders can see it.
- Pre-qualification
- An estimate of what you might get, usually based on a soft check. It is not an offer you have accepted.
- Rate shopping
- Comparing loan offers from several lenders in a short period.
How long it lasts
Day 0
The check is made
A hard inquiry appears on your report.
Up to 12 months
Affects the score
The effect is small and fades month by month.
24 months
Disappears from the report
Lenders can see the entry for about two years.
Apply smartly
Pre-qualify first
Many lenders show a likely offer using a soft check, so you can compare without a hard inquiry.
Group loan applications
For mortgages, auto and student loans, several applications in a short window are usually counted as one.
Space out card applications
Each credit card application can count separately, so avoid applying for many at once.
Check before a big loan
If you plan to buy a home, avoid new accounts for a few months before you apply.
Which check is which
Applying for a credit card or loan: hard.
Checking your own score or report: soft.
A pre-approved offer in the mail: soft.
A car or mortgage application: hard, but rate shopping is grouped.
Opening a bank account, utility or phone plan: it depends, so ask.
Planning around a big loan
If you plan to buy a home or a car in the next six months, avoid opening new credit cards, keep your balances low and pay everything on time. A calm file helps more than any trick.
Keep a short list of every application you make, with the date, the lender and whether it was hard or soft. If an unfamiliar inquiry ever appears on your report, you will know at once that it is not one of yours.
Questions people ask
How long does a hard inquiry stay on my report?
For about two years, but the effect on a FICO score is mostly gone after a year. It matters most when you have few other accounts.
Does checking my own credit hurt it?
No. Looking at your own report or score is a soft inquiry and has no effect on your score.
Sources
Written from these pages and checked against them on October 5, 2026. Programs and rules change, so check the provider’s current terms before you decide.
General information, not financial, legal or travel advice. Your own card terms and the provider’s current rules always come first.