Hard inquiries: how long they stay, how much they count and how to dispute one
Edited by Moe Ameen · Published
A hard inquiry is a lender pulling your credit after you apply, and it can lower your FICO Scores a little. Soft inquiries, like checking your own report, don't count. A hard inquiry stays on your report for up to two years, but FICO only counts it for one. Several mortgage or auto loan pulls close together count as one: within 14 or 45 days for FICO, depending on the version, and 14 days for VantageScore.
Key takeaways
- Only hard inquiries can affect your scores; soft ones never do.
- A hard inquiry stays up to two years, and FICO counts it for one.
- For most people, one more inquiry costs less than five FICO points, myFICO says.
- Loan rate shopping counts as one inquiry inside a 14- or 45-day window.
- You can dispute an inquiry you didn't authorize, free. A real one stays.
What is the difference between a hard and a soft inquiry?
A hard inquiry comes from applying for credit and can affect your scores. A soft inquiry is a review of your file that doesn't.
| Hard inquiry | Soft inquiry | |
|---|---|---|
| What triggers it | Applying for credit, such as a new card or a mortgage [1] | Checking your own report, prescreened offers, employment screening, reviews of accounts you already have [2] |
| Affects your scores | Can, by a small amount [1] | No [1][2] |
| Who sees it | Anyone who buys your report [2] | Only you, when you view your own report [2] |
Most scoring models look at how recently and how often you apply for credit [2]. That's why only hard inquiries count. A soft pull says nothing about whether you're about to take on new debt.
How long do hard inquiries stay on your credit report?
Up to two years. FICO Scores only count them for the first year, and myFICO's own reports show inquiries for 12 months.
myFICO says hard inquiries stay on your report for up to two years but only affect FICO Scores for one [1], and Experian gives the same two-year figure [5]. VantageScore says the hit from an inquiry can be made up in as little as three months [3].
The damage is usually small. For most people, one extra inquiry takes less than five points off their FICO Scores, though it can be more if you have few accounts or a short history [1]. Inquiries and new credit together make up 10% of a FICO Score [1]. Payment history and amounts owed weigh far more, as how credit scores work explains.
Does shopping for a loan count as multiple inquiries?
Not if you keep it tight. FICO groups loan inquiries made within 14 or 45 days into one, and VantageScore uses a 14-day window.
- FICO, newer versions: any 45-day span counts as one shopping period [1].
- FICO, older versions: any 14-day span [1]. You usually won't know which version a lender uses, so 14 days is the safer plan.
- FICO also ignores mortgage, auto and student loan inquiries from the 30 days before your score is calculated [1].
- VantageScore: a 14-day rolling window treats several inquiries from mortgage or auto lenders as one search, and utility inquiries are left out entirely [3].
Experian describes the same grouping for auto loans, mortgages and private student loans [5]. Credit cards are a different story. Neither myFICO's page nor VantageScore's says card applications get grouped, so assume each one counts on its own.
Who is allowed to check my credit?
Only someone with a permissible purpose under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, such as a lender you applied to. Employers need your written consent.
The FCRA lets a credit bureau send your report to creditors, government agencies, landlords, employers, insurers and others it believes have a purpose the law allows [4]. Examples include a credit application, collecting on an account, setting insurance premiums and some rental applications [4].
- Employers: you must give written consent before a current or prospective employer can get your report [4].
- Prescreened offers: creditors and insurers can see limited file information to make you a firm offer, and you can opt out of prescreening [4].
- Misuse: anyone who gets or uses your report under false pretenses can face civil and criminal penalties, the CFPB says [4].
How do I dispute a hard inquiry I didn't authorize?
Ask the company that made it, then dispute it free with each bureau that shows it. A legitimate inquiry can't be taken off early.
- Check all three reports An inquiry can show up at one bureau and not the others, so look at Equifax, Experian and TransUnion separately.
- Call the company that pulled it Experian suggests contacting the company before you dispute, to confirm whether the inquiry is really yours [5]. It may be an application you forgot about.
- File a dispute Disputing is free. Send screenshots or letters that back you up. Experian says most disputes are done within 30 days [5]. The full process is in how to dispute a credit report error.
- Lock things down if it's fraud A credit freeze is free to place and lift and doesn't affect your score. An initial fraud alert lasts one year, and an extended alert lasts seven years if you file an identity theft report at IdentityTheft.gov or a police report [6].
Glisten check
FICO vs VantageScore on inquiries, side by side
| Rule | FICO | VantageScore |
|---|---|---|
| How long the inquiry counts | 1 year [1] | Impact can be made up in as little as 3 months [3] |
| Rate-shopping window | 14 days (older versions) or 45 days (newer) [1] | 14-day rolling window [3] |
| Loan types grouped | Mortgage, auto, student loan [1] | Mortgage, auto [3] |
| Grace period before scoring | Ignores those inquiries from the last 30 days [1] | Not stated |
| Utility inquiries | Not stated | Left out entirely [3] |
| Credit card applications grouped | Not stated | Not stated |
If you're shopping for a mortgage or car loan, the 14-day window is the one that works under both scorers and every FICO version. Card applications are the gap. Neither page groups them, so spacing them out is the cautious move.
Is this right for you?
Best for
- Anyone planning a mortgage, auto or student loan who wants to shop rates without piling up inquiries.
- People who found an inquiry they don't recognize.
Not ideal for
- Getting a real inquiry taken off early. If you applied, it stays for up to two years.
- Big score drops. Inquiries are 10% of a FICO Score, so a sharp fall usually has another cause, such as a late payment.
Frequently asked questions
Does checking my own credit hurt my score?
No. Viewing your own report is a soft inquiry and doesn't affect your FICO Scores [1].
How many points does a hard inquiry take off?
For most people, less than five FICO points, according to myFICO. It can be more with few accounts or a short credit history [1].
Do soft inquiries show up on my report?
Yes, but only you see them when you view your own report. Lenders don't [2].
Can an employer check my credit without asking?
No. A current or prospective employer needs your written consent first [4].
Can I get a hard inquiry removed?
Only if you didn't authorize it. You can dispute an unauthorized inquiry free, but a legitimate one stays until it ages off [5].
How we know this
On November 2, 2026 we read myFICO's page on credit checks and inquiries, VantageScore's consumer page on loan shopping, the CFPB's pages on credit inquiries and on who can see your report, Experian's page on hard inquiries, and the FTC's page on credit freezes and fraud alerts. We kept only what those pages say.
- Credit checks and inquiries, myFICO. Checked November 2, 2026.
- What is a credit inquiry?, CFPB. Checked November 2, 2026.
- Thinking about applying for a loan? Shop around to find the best offer, VantageScore. Checked November 2, 2026.
- Who can request to see my credit report?, CFPB. Checked November 2, 2026.
- Can you remove hard inquiries from your credit report?, Experian. Checked November 2, 2026.
- What to know about credit freezes and fraud alerts, FTC. Checked November 2, 2026.