Does Checking Your Own Credit Score Hurt It?

This is one of the most common credit myths out there — and the answer is no. Checking your own credit score does not hurt it. Here's why, and what actually does.

Hard Inquiries vs. Soft Inquiries

There are two types of credit inquiries, and they work completely differently:

Hard Inquiry (Hard Pull)

A hard inquiry occurs when a lender checks your credit as part of a credit application — for a credit card, mortgage, auto loan, or personal loan. Hard inquiries:

• Reduce your score by approximately 3–7 points
• Stay on your report for 2 years
• Only impact your score for 12 months
• Multiple hard inquiries in a short period signal risk to lenders

Soft Inquiry (Soft Pull)

A soft inquiry occurs when you or someone else checks your credit for non-lending purposes. Soft inquiries do not affect your score. Examples include:

• Checking your own credit score or report
• Pre-approval offers from credit card companies
• Employer background checks
• Insurance company checks
• Credit monitoring services

The Rate Shopping Exception

When you're shopping for a mortgage, auto loan, or student loan, multiple hard inquiries within a 14–45 day window are typically treated as a single inquiry by FICO. The bureaus understand you're comparing rates, not opening multiple lines of credit.

How to Minimize Hard Inquiry Damage

• Only apply for credit when you actually need it
• Research approval odds before applying — many issuers offer pre-qualification with a soft pull
• Space out credit applications by at least 6 months when possible
• Hard inquiries naturally age off your report and stop affecting your score after 12 months

Where to Check Your Score for Free

Many banks and credit card issuers offer free FICO scores to customers. You can also check through Experian's free tier, Credit Karma (VantageScore), or through the CreditGM client portal (included in all plans).