Hard Inquiries: Score Impact and How Long They Last

By Rafeek Nassief, President, Premium Capital California · Last reviewed October 8, 2026

When you apply for a loan or a credit card, the lender usually checks your credit, and that check can show up on your report as a hard inquiry. This guide covers the score impact, how long inquiries last, rate shopping, and what to do about one you didn't authorize. For a quick overview, see our hard inquiries page.

Hard inquiry vs. soft inquiry

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) says an inquiry is a request to look at your credit report to decide your eligibility for credit, a job, housing, insurance or another purpose (CFPB, What is a credit inquiry?). There are two kinds:

Hard inquiries are often made by lenders after you apply for credit. The CFPB says they "will impact your credit score because most credit scoring models look at how recently and how frequently you apply for credit."
Soft inquiries include reviews of your existing accounts by lenders or insurers, prescreened offers, employment screening and your own requests for your report. The CFPB says these "will not affect your credit scores."

Experian adds that a hard inquiry requires your permission, while a soft inquiry may not (Experian, Hard Inquiry vs. Soft Inquiry).

What causes a hard pull

Experian says you'll typically get a hard inquiry when you apply for a credit card, a line of credit, an auto loan, a mortgage, a personal loan, or a private student loan or federal direct PLUS loan, or when you ask for a credit line increase (Experian, What Is a Hard Inquiry?).

Experian adds that a mortgage lender does a hard pull when you apply, "then again shortly before closing." A rental application could be a hard or a soft pull, so ask the landlord. Checking your own credit, prequalifying for a loan or card, and employment background checks are soft pulls (Experian, Hard Inquiry vs. Soft Inquiry).

How much does one hard inquiry affect your score?

Usually a little. FICO says, "For most people, one additional credit inquiry will take less than five points off their FICO Scores." For perspective, FICO Scores run from 300 to 850 (myFICO, credit inquiries).

FICO adds that inquiries "can have a greater impact if you have few accounts or a short credit history." FICO also says inquiries play a minor part in only 10% of a FICO Score, and that paying on time and your overall debt burden matter much more (myFICO).

Experian says a new hard inquiry typically lowers VantageScore credit scores by five to 10 points (Experian, How long do hard inquiries stay?).

How long hard inquiries stay on your credit report

On your report: up to two years. FICO says, "Hard inquiries stay on the report for up to two years." Equifax says the same (Equifax).
In your FICO Scores: 12 months. FICO says, "FICO Scores only consider inquiries from the last 12 months" (myFICO).

Experian notes that VantageScore credit scores can consider hard inquiries from the prior 24 months (Experian).

Rate shopping for a mortgage, auto or student loan

FICO says, "FICO® Scores group multiple hard inquiries that are made within a short time frame (14 to 45 days) into one inquiry." Which window applies depends on the score version (myFICO):

"For FICO® Scores calculated from older versions of the scoring formula, this shopping period is any 14-day span."
"For FICO® Scores calculated from the newest versions of the scoring formula, this shopping period is any 45-day span."

Each lender chooses its FICO version. FICO also says that for mortgage, auto and student loans, "FICO® Scores ignore inquiries made in the 30 days prior to scoring."

For mortgages, the CFPB says the impact "is the same no matter how many lenders you consult, as long as the last credit check is within 45 days of the first credit check" (CFPB). Equifax says this exception "generally does not apply to other types of loans, such as credit cards" (Equifax).

Checking your own credit doesn't hurt your score

The CFPB says, "No, requesting your credit report does not hurt your credit score." You can review your report online for free once a week from each of the three nationwide credit reporting companies at AnnualCreditReport.com (CFPB). That is also how you spot an inquiry you don't recognize.

What to do about an inquiry you didn't authorize

A credit reporting company can share your report with those it believes have a "permissible purpose," such as a credit transaction. The CFPB says, "No one should request your credit report without a valid purpose allowed by the law" (CFPB, Who can see my report?).

An unfamiliar name isn't always a problem. Experian notes a car dealer often sends one application to several lenders, and the company that pulled your report may have a different name than the lender. It suggests contacting the company first to verify the inquiry (Experian).

If an inquiry is still wrong, or looks like fraud:

Dispute it with the credit bureau. The CFPB says to explain in writing what is wrong and why, with copies of documents. The credit reporting company "must investigate your dispute" and report the results to you (CFPB). Experian says to dispute with each bureau that shows it (Experian).
If it may be identity theft, take those steps too. The CFPB recommends reporting it at IdentityTheft.gov and placing fraud alerts or security freezes on your credit reports (CFPB).

Disputes are for inquiries that are inaccurate or unauthorized. Experian says legitimate hard inquiries can't be taken off; they come off on their own after two years (Experian). Accurate information can stay.

How Premium Capital California approaches inquiries

Premium Capital California is a credit management company serving clients in all 50 states, using three pillars together: challenge what doesn't belong, work what you already have, and add positive history.

Challenge what doesn't belong: inquiries and other items that are inaccurate, incomplete or unauthorized. Accurate inquiries are not challenged as inaccurate.
Work what you already have, with help on on-time payments and on planning when to apply for new credit.
Add positive history over time.

Credit bureaus and lenders make their own decisions, so we don't promise a score, a result or a date. See how it works and compare plans on our pricing page.

Next step: a free consultation

Not sure whether every inquiry on your report is yours? Book a free consultation and we'll go through your reports with you.

Book a free consultation

Frequently asked questions

How long does a hard inquiry stay on my credit report?

Up to two years. FICO says hard inquiries stay on the report for up to two years, but FICO Scores only consider inquiries from the last 12 months.

How many points does one hard inquiry take off a score?

FICO says that for most people, one additional credit inquiry takes less than five points off their FICO Scores. The impact can be greater if you have few accounts or a short credit history.

Will shopping around for a mortgage or car loan hurt my credit?

FICO groups multiple hard inquiries made within 14 to 45 days, depending on the score version, into one inquiry. For mortgages, the CFPB says the impact is the same no matter how many lenders you consult, as long as the last credit check is within 45 days of the first.

This article is for general education only. It is not legal, financial or credit advice, and it does not promise any specific score, removal or timeline.

Sources

myFICO, "Does Checking Your Credit Score Lower It?": https://www.myfico.com/credit-education/credit-reports/does-checking-credit-score-lower-it
myFICO, "What is New Credit?": https://www.myfico.com/credit-education/credit-scores/new-credit
CFPB, "What is a credit inquiry?" (last reviewed Sep 5, 2025): https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-is-a-credit-inquiry-en-1317/
CFPB, "What happens when a mortgage lender checks my credit?" (last reviewed Aug 28, 2026): https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-exactly-happens-when-a-mortgage-lender-checks-my-credit-en-2005/
CFPB, "Does requesting my credit report hurt my credit score?" (last reviewed May 14, 2024): https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/does-requesting-my-credit-report-hurt-my-credit-score-en-1229/
CFPB, "Who can request to see my credit report?" (last reviewed Dec 31, 2024): https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/who-can-request-to-see-my-credit-report-en-1305/
CFPB, "How do I dispute an error on my credit report?" (last reviewed Sep 2, 2026): https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/how-do-i-dispute-an-error-on-my-credit-report-en-314/
CFPB, "What do I do if I am a victim of identity theft?" (last reviewed Jul 30, 2026): https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-do-i-do-if-i-am-a-victim-of-identity-theft-en-31/
Experian, "What Is a Hard Inquiry and How Does It Affect Credit?" (Nov 8, 2024): https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/what-is-a-hard-inquiry/
Experian, "Hard Inquiry vs. Soft Inquiry: What's the Difference?" (Sep 23, 2026): https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/hard-inquiry-vs-soft-inquiry/
Experian, "How Long Do Hard Inquiries Stay on Your Credit Report?" (Dec 12, 2025): https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/how-long-do-hard-inquiries-stay-on-your-credit-report/
Equifax, "Understanding Hard Inquiries on Your Credit Report": https://www.equifax.com/personal/education/credit/report/articles/-/learn/understanding-hard-inquiries-on-your-credit-report/