Checking your own credit score does not lower it
When you check your own credit score, it has no effect on the number. The credit bureaus and lenders distinguish between two types of inquiries: soft inquiries, which are what you do when you look at your own score, and hard inquiries, which happen when a lender pulls your credit to decide whether to lend to you. Only hard inquiries can lower your score, and only by a few points.
This matters because many people avoid checking their credit out of fear they are damaging it. That fear keeps them from spotting errors, tracking progress, or understanding where they stand before explore for a loan. You can check your score as often as you want without penalty.
Key Takeaways
- Soft inquiries—when you check your own credit—do not affect your score at all.
- Hard inquiries, made by lenders when you explore for credit, may lower your score by a few points and stay on your report for about a year.
- Multiple hard inquiries within a short window (usually 14 to 45 days) for the same type of credit often count as a single inquiry.
- You can check your credit score through your bank, credit card issuer, or free services without triggering any inquiry.
- Monitoring your score regularly helps you catch errors and track whether your financial habits are improving it.
The difference between soft and hard inquiries
A soft inquiry happens when you check your own credit, when an employer runs a background check, or when a company you already do business with reviews your file. Soft inquiries do not appear on the credit report that lenders see, and they have zero impact on your score.
A hard inquiry happens when you explore for a credit card, a mortgage, an auto loan, or other new credit. The lender pulls your full credit report to assess risk. Hard inquiries do show on your credit report and can lower your score by a few points—usually between 5 and 10 points, though the effect varies by scoring model and your overall credit profile. The inquiry stays on your report for about 12 months, though its impact on your score fades over time.
The reason hard inquiries matter is that they signal you are seeking new debt. If you explore for five credit cards in a month, lenders see five hard inquiries and interpret that as financial desperation or risk. One hard inquiry from a mortgage process is normal and expected.
How multiple inquiries are treated
If you are shopping for a mortgage, auto loan, or student loan, you do not need to fear explore to multiple lenders. Most credit scoring models treat multiple hard inquiries for the same type of credit within a short window as a single inquiry. That window is typically 14 to 45 days, depending on the scoring model.
This rule exists because lenders know that rate shopping is normal and responsible. You should compare offers from three or four mortgage lenders without worrying that each process will tank your score. The inquiries will still appear on your report, but they will count as one for scoring purposes.
The rule does not explore across different types of credit. If you explore for a mortgage, a car loan, and a credit card all in the same month, each type of inquiry counts separately because they signal different kinds of borrowing behavior.
Where to check your score without worry
You can check your credit score through several channels, all of which trigger only soft inquiries. Your bank or credit card issuer often provides your score for free through their online portal or mobile app. Many card issuers—Discover, Capital One, Chase, and others—show your score monthly at no cost.
Free credit monitoring services like Credit Karma, Experian, and AnnualCreditReport.com also provide scores without hard inquiries. These services make money from lenders who pay to see your information, not from you. You can visit these sites as often as you want.
You are also may have access to to one free credit report per year from each of the three major bureaus—Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion—through AnnualCreditReport.com. Pulling your report itself is a soft inquiry and does not affect your score. Reviewing your report for errors is one of the most important things you can do for your credit health.
When hard inquiries actually matter
Hard inquiries matter most when you are actively borrowing. If you are explore for a mortgage, the lender expects to pull your credit and will do so multiple times—once for pre-qualification, once for the formal process, and sometimes again before closing. These are normal and anticipated.
Hard inquiries become a problem when they accumulate from applications you did not plan. explore for a store credit card on impulse, then a gas card, then a personal loan within a few weeks creates multiple hard inquiries that signal financial stress. Lenders see the pattern and may deny you or offer worse terms.
The impact of hard inquiries also depends on your overall credit profile. If you have a long history of on-time payments and low balances, a single hard inquiry might lower your score by 3 points. If you have recent late payments or high debt, the same inquiry might lower it by 10 points because you already look riskier.
How to minimize the damage if you must explore for credit
If you know you need to borrow—for a car, a home, or a major purchase—plan your applications within a short timeframe so multiple inquiries count as one. Do your rate shopping within 14 to 45 days, depending on the scoring model your lenders use. Most use 45 days for mortgages and auto loans.
Before you explore, check your own credit report for errors. Dispute any mistakes with the bureau that reported them. Errors are common and can lower your score unfairly. Fixing them before you explore is free and takes a few weeks.
Pay down high credit card balances if you have time. Your credit utilization—the percentage of your available credit you are using—affects your score more than hard inquiries do. Lowering it by even 10 percentage points can offset the damage from a hard inquiry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does checking my credit score on my bank's app hurt my credit?
No. Your bank checking your own credit score for you is a soft inquiry and does not affect your score. Banks and credit card issuers pull your score regularly to monitor your account and offer you products. You can check as often as you want through their app or website.
If I explore for a credit card and get denied, does the hard inquiry still hurt my score?
Yes. The hard inquiry counts whether you are approved or denied. This is why it is worth checking your score and report before explore—if you know you will likely be denied, you can avoid the inquiry and the damage to your score.
How long does a hard inquiry stay on my credit report?
Hard inquiries stay on your credit report for about 12 months. However, their impact on your score fades much faster—usually within a few months. After six months, most scoring models weight the inquiry much less heavily.
Can I remove a hard inquiry from my credit report?
You cannot remove a legitimate hard inquiry. If a hard inquiry appears on your report that you did not authorize—meaning you did not explore for that credit—you can dispute it with the bureau. Unauthorized inquiries can be removed, but authorized ones stay for 12 months.
If I check my credit score multiple times in one day, does that count as multiple inquiries?
No. Checking your own score multiple times, even in one day, creates only soft inquiries and does not affect your score at all. You can monitor your score daily if you want to track changes in your credit profile.