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When you apply for credit, lenders may check your credit history. That check—called an inquiry—can be “soft” or “hard,” and it plays a small role in your FICO® credit score. Here’s what that means, how much it matters, and smart ways to keep your score strong.

What’s an inquiry?

• Soft inquiry: You checking your own credit, pre-qualification offers, employer/insurance checks. Effect on score: None.
• Hard inquiry: A lender checks your credit because you applied for a mortgage, auto loan, credit card, etc. Effect on score: Small and temporary dip for most people.

How much does a hard inquiry matter?

• Typically a minor impact compared to bigger factors like on-time payments and credit card balances.
• New inquiries affect FICO® scores for about 12 months and fall off your report after 24 months.
• Having several hard inquiries in a short time can add up—focus on applying when you truly need to.

“Rate-shopping” without the penalty

FICO® models are designed to let you shop for one loan—like a mortgage or auto loan—without being penalized for every quote:

• Multiple same-type inquiries within a condensed window (often treated as 14–45 days depending on model) are generally counted as one for scoring.
• Best practice: Group your mortgage or auto applications within a short, organized period.

Pre-qualification vs. pre-approval

• Pre-qualification (often soft pull): quick estimate, no score impact.
• Pre-approval (usually hard pull): verified with documentation; small, temporary score impact and stronger with sellers.

Smart habits to minimize inquiry impact

• Plan your applications. Bundle mortgage/auto quotes together.
• Keep balances low and pay on time—these dominate your score and easily outweigh inquiry effects.
• Avoid “just browsing” credit cards. Each application can add a hard inquiry.
• Check your own credit regularly. Soft pulls are free of score impact and help you spot issues early.

Common myths—debunked

• “Looking at my own credit hurts my score.” False—soft inquiry, no impact.
• “Any inquiry tanks my score.” False—hard inquiries have small, short-lived effects.
• “All inquiries are treated the same.” False—rate-shopping rules can group mortgage/auto inquiries.

What matters most in FICO® scores

1. Payment history (on-time vs. late)
2. Amounts owed/utilization (balances vs. limits)
3. Length of credit history
4. New credit (includes inquiries)
5. Credit mix

Quick checklist before you apply

• Review reports for errors at AnnualCreditReport.com (free).
• Pay down revolving balances where possible.
• Gather your documents to shop efficiently within a short window.
• Consider a pre-qualification first if available (soft inquiry).

Friendly FAQs

Does checking my own credit hurt my score?

No. It’s a soft inquiry and has no impact.

How long will a hard inquiry affect me?

About 12 months for scoring impact; it remains visible to lenders for 24 months.

Will shopping multiple mortgage lenders crush my score?

Not if you group inquiries in a short window—FICO® generally treats them like one.

Helpful resources

• Annual credit reports: AnnualCreditReport.com
• FICO® education: myFICO.com and FICO Score Education
• Disputing errors: consumerfinance.gov and consumer.ftc.gov
• Opt out of prescreened offers: OptOutPrescreen.com