Every time you apply for new credit—whether it's a credit card, auto loan, or mortgage—the lender checks your credit report. This is known as a "hard inquiry" or "hard pull."

The Lifespan of a Hard Inquiry

Hard inquiries remain on your credit report for exactly two years (24 months) from the date the inquiry was made. After two years, they automatically fall off your report.

The Impact on Your Credit Score

While hard inquiries stay on your report for two years, they only impact your FICO credit score for the first 12 months. After one year, the inquiry is still visible to lenders, but it no longer factors into your score calculation.

How Much Does an Inquiry Hurt?

A single hard inquiry typically drops your score by only a few points (usually less than 5 points). However, multiple hard inquiries in a short period can have a compounding negative effect, signaling to lenders that you are desperate for credit or taking on too much debt.

Rate Shopping Exception

Credit scoring models are designed to allow you to shop around for the best rates on auto loans, mortgages, and student loans. If you have multiple inquiries for the same type of loan within a short window (typically 14 to 45 days, depending on the scoring model), they are treated as a single inquiry for scoring purposes.

Removing Unauthorized Inquiries

If you see hard inquiries on your report that you did not authorize, you may be a victim of identity theft. You have the right to dispute these unauthorized inquiries with the credit bureaus and have them removed from your report.