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Hard Inquiry vs Soft Inquiry: What Each Does to Your Score
By Christian Brinkley. Reviewed October 8, 2026.
Educational information only, not personalized tax, legal, or investment advice. Christian is a licensed insurance agent (NC Life & Health), not a CPA or registered investment adviser. Discuss your own situation with a qualified professional.
The one-line difference
A hard inquiry is a lender pulling your full credit file to decide whether to lend to you. It can shave a few points off your score for a while. A soft inquiry is a look at your file that decides nothing: you checking your own score, a prequalification, an employer background check, or your own card company reviewing your account.
What counts as which
Hard: applying for a credit card, mortgage, auto loan, or student loan, and sometimes an apartment application. Soft: checking your own report or score, prequalifying without applying, promotional offers, and account reviews by lenders you already have.
How long they stick around
A hard inquiry stays on your credit report for up to two years, though scoring models weigh recent activity most and the effect fades with time. Soft inquiries show on the copy you pull for yourself, but other lenders cannot see them and scores ignore them.
What to do about an unfamiliar inquiry
First check the date and company name, then think about anything you applied for around then. If you still do not recognize it, contact the company listed. If it was not authorized, dispute it with the credit bureau that shows it. Unauthorized inquiries can be a sign of identity theft, and you can place a fraud alert or freeze while you sort it out.
| Hard inquiry | Soft inquiry |
|---|---|
| Applying for credit triggers it | Checking your own credit, prequalifying, or account reviews |
| Can lower your score temporarily | Never affects your score |
| Other lenders can see it | Only you can see it on your own copy |
| Stays on your report up to two years | Scores ignore it entirely |
Your records checklist
- Prequalify with a soft pull before you apply.
- Group rate-shopping applications close together.
- Pull your own reports free each week to see every inquiry.
- Dispute any inquiry you did not authorize.
- Remember that checking your own score never hurts it.
Common questions
- Does checking my own credit score lower it?
- No. Checking your own credit is always a soft inquiry and never affects your score, no matter how often you look.
- How many points does a hard inquiry cost?
- Usually just a few, and the effect is temporary. Inquiries matter more when your file is thin or you apply for several kinds of credit at once.
- Can I get a hard inquiry removed?
- Only if it was unauthorized or an error. A legitimate inquiry from an application you approved stays until it ages off, up to two years.
Sources and current instructions
Check the tax year and any later updates before acting. These are the primary sources used for this guide.