Inquiries on a Credit Report: Hard and Soft Inquiries Explained
An inquiry on a credit report is a record that someone requested your credit file from Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion. Hard inquiries are tied to a specific application for credit and are typically visible to lenders for two years. Soft inquiries cover everything else, including your own requests to review your file.
This guide is general educational information for U.S. readers. It is not financial advice and does not describe your individual credit file. Figures such as score ranges and timeline estimates are typical examples, not promises.
Key takeaways
- An inquiry on a credit report is a logged request for your credit file from one of the three nationwide credit reporting agencies.
- Hard inquiries follow applications for credit such as cards, loans, and some rental or utility applications; soft inquiries cover consumer-initiated checks, prescreened offers, and account reviews.
- Hard inquiries typically remain on a credit report for two years, while most negative information such as late payments stays for seven years.
- Inquiries are considered through the new credit factor, which carries an approximate weight of 10% in the FICO model; VantageScore uses its own weighting and does not publish fixed percentages.
- Soft inquiries are not part of credit score calculations and are generally not shared with lenders.
- Under the FCRA, a credit reporting agency generally must investigate a dispute within 30 days, a period that can extend to 45 days if additional information is provided during the initial window.
An inquiry on a credit report is a record that a person, business, or lender requested your credit file from one of the three nationwide credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Inquiries come in two forms. A hard inquiry is tied to a specific application for credit, such as a card, loan, or lease, while a soft inquiry covers everything else, including checking your own report, prescreened offers, and account reviews by companies you already do business with. Hard inquiries typically remain on a credit report for two years.
What creates an entry in the inquiry section
Each time a credit reporting agency sends your file to a requester with a permissible purpose, it logs the event. The entry usually shows the requester's name, the date of the request, and the type of inquiry. Because Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion keep separate files, a single application can produce an inquiry on one report, two reports, or all three, depending on which agencies the lender contacted.
Inquiries are one line item inside a much larger file that also holds identifying information, account histories, payment records, collection accounts, and public records such as bankruptcies. The credit reports hub covers the full contents of that file and how consumers obtain it.
Hard inquiry vs. soft inquiry on a credit report
The two labels are not interchangeable. A hard inquiry reflects a request made as part of a decision about you, such as whether to open a new account. A soft inquiry reflects a request that is not tied to a lending decision. Experian's credit education pages describe soft inquiries as visible only on the copy of the file the consumer sees, while hard inquiries appear in the file that lenders receive.
| Point of comparison | Hard inquiry | Soft inquiry |
|---|---|---|
| Typical trigger | An application for a card, loan, lease, or line of credit; some rental, utility, or insurance applications | A self-request for your own report; a prescreened offer; a review of an existing account; some employment or background checks |
| Visible to lenders | Yes, it appears in the file a lender receives | Generally not |
| Considered by scoring models | Yes, through the new credit factor | No |
| Typical time listed | 2 years | Listed for the consumer, not shared with lenders |
| Requires an application | Usually yes | No |
Applications that usually produce a hard inquiry
- A new credit card application
- A mortgage application, or a preapproval in which the lender pulls the full file
- An auto loan or lease application
- A personal loan, student loan, or home equity application
- Some rental applications, utility or phone service applications, and insurance underwriting, depending on the company and state law
Situations that usually produce a soft inquiry
- Requesting your own credit file, including through AnnualCreditReport.com
- A card issuer or insurer sending a prescreened offer
- A company you already have an account with reviewing that account
- An employer or background screening company checking your file with your written permission
- Identity verification connected to an existing relationship
Why are there inquiries on my credit report
Most entries trace back to a request that was authorized at the time, even if it is no longer memorable. Common explanations include:
- A recent application. An application submitted online, in a store, or over the phone generates an inquiry when the lender pulls your file.
- Rate shopping. Several lenders pulling your file while you compare mortgage or auto loan offers each generate an entry.
- A prescreened offer. A company that buys a list of prescreened consumers may request files to determine who qualifies for a firm offer of credit.
- An account review. Creditors periodically review the accounts they hold, which is recorded as a soft inquiry.
- A request you did not authorize. An entry with an unfamiliar company name can indicate that someone applied using your information.
How inquiries relate to credit scores
Most credit scores, including FICO and VantageScore, use a range of 300 to 850. In the FICO model, inquiries are considered through the new credit factor, which carries an approximate weight of 10%. The remaining factors are payment history at about 35%, amounts owed at about 30%, length of credit history at about 15%, and credit mix at about 10%. VantageScore uses its own weighting and does not publish fixed percentages. Soft inquiries are not part of either calculation; only hard inquiries are considered.
According to Experian, scoring models generally treat a group of mortgage or auto loan inquiries made within a short shopping window as a single shopping event, so comparing several lenders is not treated the same way as several unrelated applications. Detailed factor breakdowns appear in how credit scores are calculated and FICO vs. VantageScore.
How long inquiries stay on a credit report
Hard inquiries typically remain on a credit report for two years. That window is shorter than most other items: most negative information, including late payments, stays on a report for seven years, while a Chapter 7 bankruptcy stays for 10 years and a Chapter 13 bankruptcy for 7 years. Scoring models consider inquiries through the new credit factor, which reflects newly opened accounts and recent applications rather than the entire inquiry history.
The length of a credit file also plays a role in how the file reads overall, since older accounts contribute to the length of credit history factor. That factor is covered on the length of credit history page.
Checking your own credit produces a soft inquiry
Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA, 15 U.S.C. section 1681), consumers have the right to a free credit report from each nationwide agency every 12 months, and the three agencies currently provide free reports weekly through AnnualCreditReport.com. Pulling your own file is recorded as a soft inquiry and is not shown to lenders. The credit check page explains the difference between a consumer-initiated review and a lender-initiated pull, and credit monitoring covers how ongoing review of a file works.
When an inquiry on a credit report is not yours
An inquiry that cannot be connected to any request can indicate that someone used your identity to apply for credit. The Fair Credit Reporting Act gives consumers the right to dispute information that is inaccurate or incomplete. A credit reporting agency generally must investigate a dispute within 30 days, and that period can extend to 45 days if the consumer provides additional information during the initial 30-day window.
Two FCRA provisions address identity theft specifically. Section 605A covers fraud alerts (15 U.S.C. section 1681c-1); an initial fraud alert lasts one year, and an extended fraud alert lasts seven years. Section 605B covers identity theft report blocking (15 U.S.C. section 1681c-2). A security freeze is free to place, temporarily lift, or remove under federal law. Consumers who believe their identity has been stolen can report it at IdentityTheft.gov and to the IRS using Form 14039. The identity theft, credit freeze, and credit lock pages describe each of these tools in more detail.
Reading the inquiry section in context
Inquiries are a small part of a credit file, and no single entry determines an outcome on an application. Payment history and amounts owed carry the largest weights in the FICO model, and both reflect a longer record of account management than a list of request dates. The payment history and credit utilization pages cover those two factors, the credit score hub explains how the pieces fit together, and the credit profile page describes how a file as a whole is assembled from the three agencies' records.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau publishes consumer resources on credit reports and scores, including how to request reports and how disputes are handled.
This page is published for education only and is not financial advice.
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Frequently asked questions
Do inquiries on a credit report affect a credit score?
Hard inquiries are considered through the new credit factor in the FICO model, which carries an approximate weight of 10% of the score. VantageScore uses its own weighting and does not publish fixed percentages. Soft inquiries are not part of credit score calculations at all. Most scores, including FICO and VantageScore, use a range of 300 to 850.
How long does a hard inquiry stay on a credit report?
Hard inquiries typically remain on a credit report for two years. By comparison, most negative information such as late payments stays on a report for seven years, a Chapter 7 bankruptcy stays for 10 years, and a Chapter 13 bankruptcy stays for 7 years.
Why are there inquiries on my credit report that I do not recognize?
Common sources include a prescreened offer from a card issuer or insurer, an account review by a company you already have a relationship with, a rental or utility application, or an employer check made with your permission. An entry with a company you have never dealt with can also signal that someone applied for credit using your information.
Does checking my own credit report create a hard inquiry?
No. A request you make for your own credit file, including through AnnualCreditReport.com, is recorded as a soft inquiry. Under the FCRA, consumers have the right to a free credit report from each nationwide agency every 12 months, and the three agencies currently provide free reports weekly through AnnualCreditReport.com.
Can an inquiry be removed from a credit report?
The FCRA gives consumers the right to dispute information that is inaccurate or incomplete. A credit reporting agency generally must investigate a dispute within 30 days, and the period can extend to 45 days if the consumer provides additional information during the initial 30-day window. Whether a specific entry is changed depends on the outcome of that investigation.
Are soft inquiries visible to lenders?
Soft inquiries are generally not shared with lenders. Experian's credit education pages describe soft inquiries as visible on the copy of the report the consumer sees, while hard inquiries appear in the file that lenders receive. Soft inquiries are also excluded from credit score calculations.
Related guides
- How Credit Scores Are Calculated
- Fico Vs Vantagescore
- Credit Score Ranges Explained
- Payment History And Credit Scores
- Credit Utilization Explained
- Length Of Credit History Explained