Does checking my own credit or shopping lenders hurt my score?
Three kinds of credit check
| Check | Who can see the inquiry | Effect on your scores |
|---|---|---|
| You check your own reports or scores | Only you | None |
| A lender's soft check, such as a soft prequalification | Only you, on your own copy of your report; the lender receives the report and scores it ordered. | None |
| A lender's hard check, when you apply | You, other lenders and the scoring models; the lender receives the report and scores it ordered. | Small, and grouped with other mortgage checks made close together |
Checking your own credit is a soft inquiry. You can read your reports as often as you like. Your reports are free from all three bureaus at AnnualCreditReport.com.
How shopping lenders is counted
Scoring models expect you to compare lenders, so they group inquiries made close together. As of 24 October 2026, FICO and VantageScore describe their rules this way.
| Model | Counted as one | Recent mortgage inquiries | Counted in the score | On the report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classic FICO, the older version most mortgage lenders use | Mortgage inquiries within 14 days | Ignored when less than 30 days old | 12 months | Up to 24 months |
| Newer FICO versions | Mortgage inquiries within 45 days | Ignored when less than 30 days old | 12 months | Up to 24 months |
| VantageScore 4.0 | Inquiries from mortgage or auto lenders within a 14-day rolling window, as a single search | No such rule published | Not published | Up to 24 months |
Under FICO’s rule that mortgage inquiries less than 30 days old are ignored, a lender’s check during your shopping does not lower the scores the next lender pulls within that period. How long an inquiry stays on the report is a property of the credit report, so it is the same under every model. Fourteen days is the shortest window any of these models uses, which is why two weeks is the safe window.
How long an inquiry counts
A hard inquiry stays on your report for up to 24 months. FICO scores count it for 12. After that it stays on the report and has no effect on the score.
Shopping without it costing you
- Choose the lenders you will compare first. Pick two or three loan officers before anyone pulls your credit.
- Use soft checks to look early. A soft check gives a lender your file without counting against your score.
- Put the hard checks within two weeks. They then count as one under the oldest rule in use.
- Do not apply for other credit while you shop. A new card or car loan is a separate inquiry and a new account, and it can change your scores just before your lender pulls them.
A hard mortgage check can also bring calls from other lenders. Our guide to trigger leads explains which callers are still allowed and how to opt out first.
Questions people ask
Does a mortgage pre-approval affect my credit score?
A pre-approval that uses a hard check can lower it slightly. A prequalification that uses a soft check does not affect it.
How many mortgage inquiries hurt my credit score?
Several made inside the shopping window count as one. Inquiries spread over months count separately.
How long does a hard inquiry affect my score?
FICO scores count it for 12 months. It stays visible on your report for up to 24 months.
Do credit card or car loan applications count in the same window?
No. The grouping applies to the type of loan you are shopping for. A new card applied for while you shop for a mortgage is a separate inquiry.
Notes and sources
- Credit Technologies: Soft credit check vs. hard pull
- Credit Technologies: The end of trigger leads (2026)
- BestQualify: Why do other lenders call after I apply for a mortgage?
- CFPB: What kind of credit inquiry has no effect on my credit score?
- myFICO: rate shopping and credit inquiries (45-day window in newer FICO versions, 14 days in older ones; mortgage inquiries under 30 days old ignored; inquiries counted for 12 months and kept up to 24; checked 24 October 2026)
- Fannie Mae Selling Guide B3-5.1-01, General Requirements for Credit Scores (the Classic FICO versions mortgage lenders use)
- VantageScore: Thinking about applying for a loan? Shop around to find the best offer (14-day rolling window for mortgage or auto inquiries; checked 24 October 2026)
- AnnualCreditReport.com: free copies of your credit reports
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