What is a Hard Inquiry?
A hard inquiry (also known as a hard pull) occurs when a prospective lender reviews your credit report from one of the major bureaus to evaluate your creditworthiness. This action is recorded on your credit file and signals to other lenders that you are actively seeking new debt.
Hard Inquiry vs. Soft Inquiry
Understanding the difference between the two types of credit checks is essential for protecting your : The CFPB explains hard inquiries and confirms that multiple mortgage or auto loan inquiries within a 45-day window are typically counted as a single inquiry for scoring purposes.
- Hard Inquiry: Initiated when you formally apply for a mortgage, auto loan, credit card, or personal loan. This requires your explicit consent and will cause a temporary drop in your .
- Soft Inquiry: Occurs when you check your own credit, when an employer conducts a background check, or when a lender pre-approves you for a promotional offer. Soft pulls are invisible to lenders and do not affect your credit score.
How Long Do Hard Inquiries Last?
A hard inquiry remains visible on your official credit reports (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) for exactly 24 months from the date of the application. However, the FICO scoring model only factors the inquiry into your score calculation for the first 12 months. After one year, the inquiry loses all negative impact on your score, even though it remains on the report.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What happens if I shop around for a mortgage or auto loan?
The FICO model accommodates rate shopping. If you apply for multiple mortgages or auto loans within a 14-to-45 day window (depending on the FICO version used), they are consolidated and treated as a single hard inquiry. This does not apply to credit card applications.
Can I remove a hard inquiry from my credit report?
You can only successfully dispute and remove a hard inquiry if it was made without your authorization (e.g., due to identity theft). Legitimate inquiries resulting from applications you submitted cannot be removed early.
