Hard vs. Soft Credit Inquiries: What Actually Hurts

Not every credit check affects your score. Soft inquiries — checking your own credit, pre-approval offers — never do. Hard inquiries from applying for credit can lower it slightly and stay on your report for two years.

How much they matter

A single hard pull usually costs only a few points and fades within months. Rate-shopping for a mortgage or auto loan within a short window typically counts as one inquiry.

Disputing unauthorized inquiries

If you spot a hard inquiry you didn't authorize, dispute it — it can signal identity theft. Unauthorized inquiries that can't be verified should be removed.