Soft vs Hard Credit Checks: What Affects Your Score
Which credit inquiries lower your score, by how much, for how long, and when a lender will use each type.
Two kinds of inquiries
A credit inquiry is a record that someone looked at your credit report. There are two types, and only one of them can affect your score.
Soft inquiries
Soft inquiries happen when you check your own credit, when a company pre-screens you for an offer, or when a lender does an initial review. They're visible only to you and don't affect your score. Sending a request through Bear Loans Online doesn't affect your FICO® score.
Hard inquiries
A hard inquiry happens when you formally apply for credit and the lender pulls your full report to make a decision. It can lower your score by a few points and stays on your report for up to two years, though scoring models generally weigh it for about 12 months.
When lenders switch from soft to hard
Many lenders use a soft inquiry to show you a preliminary offer and a hard inquiry only when you decide to move forward. A responsible lender tells you before it runs a hard pull. If you're not sure, ask.
Limiting the impact
- Use pre-qualification or soft-check tools before you formally apply
- Avoid applying with many lenders in a short period unless they use soft checks
- Check your own reports for free at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute anything you don't recognize
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