How Long Does It Take For Hard Inquiries To Fall Off Your Credit Report?

Arlie Schuster 28 Jul 2025

Understanding how long hard inquiries stay on your credit report is crucial for anyone looking to maintain or improve their credit score. Whether you're applying for a loan, credit card, or mortgage, hard inquiries are an inevitable part of the credit process. However, many people are unsure about the impact these inquiries have on their credit scores and how long they remain visible to lenders. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore everything you need to know about hard inquiries, their effects, and strategies to minimize their impact.

Hard inquiries occur when a lender checks your credit report to assess your creditworthiness. While they are necessary for lending decisions, they can temporarily affect your credit score. Knowing how long these inquiries remain on your report can help you make informed financial decisions and avoid unnecessary credit applications.

This article will delve into the details of hard inquiries, their lifespan on your credit report, and how they influence your credit score. By the end of this guide, you’ll have a clear understanding of how to manage hard inquiries effectively and protect your financial health.

What Are Hard Inquiries?
How Long Do Hard Inquiries Last?
Effects of Hard Inquiries on Your Credit Score
Types of Credit Inquiries
How to Remove Hard Inquiries
Minimizing the Impact of Hard Inquiries
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Factors Affecting Your Credit Score
Strategies for Building Credit
Conclusion

What Are Hard Inquiries?

Hard inquiries are formal requests made by lenders or creditors to access your credit report. These inquiries occur when you apply for credit, such as a mortgage, auto loan, credit card, or personal loan. Unlike soft inquiries, which do not affect your credit score, hard inquiries are recorded on your credit report and can have a temporary impact on your credit score.

Hard inquiries are typically initiated when you give permission to a lender to check your credit history. This process helps lenders evaluate your creditworthiness and determine whether to approve your application. However, each hard inquiry can slightly lower your credit score, depending on your credit history and other factors.

Why Do Lenders Perform Hard Inquiries?

To assess your creditworthiness and risk level.
To determine the terms and interest rates for loans or credit cards.
To verify your identity and financial stability.

How Long Do Hard Inquiries Last?

Hard inquiries remain on your credit report for two years. However, their impact on your credit score diminishes over time. Most credit scoring models, such as FICO and VantageScore, only consider hard inquiries from the past 12 months when calculating your credit score. After 12 months, the impact of hard inquiries becomes negligible, even though they may still appear on your credit report for another year.

It’s important to note that not all hard inquiries affect your credit score equally. For example, multiple inquiries for the same type of credit product (e.g., auto loans or mortgages) within a short period are often grouped together and treated as a single inquiry. This practice, known as "rate shopping," allows consumers to compare offers without significantly harming their credit score.

Factors Affecting the Duration of Hard Inquiries

The type of credit product you're applying for.
Your overall credit history and financial behavior.
The credit scoring model used by lenders.

Effects of Hard Inquiries on Your Credit Score

While hard inquiries can lower your credit score, the impact is usually minimal and temporary. On average, a single hard inquiry may reduce your credit score by 5 to 10 points. However, the exact impact depends on several factors, including the number of inquiries, your credit history, and the overall health of your credit profile.

For individuals with short credit histories or limited credit accounts, the impact of hard inquiries may be more pronounced. Conversely, those with long, established credit histories and a diverse mix of credit accounts may experience less significant effects.

How Credit Scoring Models Handle Hard Inquiries

FICO: Considers hard inquiries from the past 12 months and excludes inquiries older than 30 days when calculating the number of recent inquiries.
VantageScore: Treats multiple inquiries for the same type of credit within a 14-day window as a single inquiry.

Types of Credit Inquiries

There are two main types of credit inquiries: hard inquiries and soft inquiries. Understanding the difference between these two types is essential for managing your credit health.

Hard Inquiries

Hard inquiries occur when a lender or creditor checks your credit report to evaluate your creditworthiness. These inquiries are recorded on your credit report and can impact your credit score.

Soft Inquiries

Soft inquiries occur when you check your own credit report, or when a lender checks your credit for promotional purposes. Unlike hard inquiries, soft inquiries do not affect your credit score and are not visible to lenders.

How to Remove Hard Inquiries

In some cases, it may be possible to remove hard inquiries from your credit report. This is particularly true if the inquiry was made without your permission or if it was the result of identity theft. To remove hard inquiries, you can dispute them with the credit bureaus or contact the lender directly.

Here are the steps to dispute a hard inquiry:

Obtain a copy of your credit report from all three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion).
Review your credit report for any unauthorized or inaccurate inquiries.
File a dispute with the credit bureau, providing evidence to support your claim.
Follow up with the credit bureau to ensure the inquiry has been removed.

Minimizing the Impact of Hard Inquiries

While it’s impossible to avoid hard inquiries altogether, there are several strategies you can use to minimize their impact on your credit score:

Rate Shopping

If you're applying for a mortgage, auto loan, or student loan, take advantage of rate shopping. Most credit scoring models allow you to shop around for the best rates without incurring multiple penalties. Simply ensure that all inquiries are made within a 14- to 45-day window, depending on the scoring model.

Limit Credit Applications

Avoid applying for multiple credit accounts within a short period. Each application generates a hard inquiry, which can cumulatively lower your credit score. Instead, focus on building a strong credit history and applying for credit only when necessary.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Many people make mistakes when dealing with hard inquiries, which can negatively impact their credit health. Here are some common mistakes to avoid:

Applying for multiple credit cards in a short period.
Ignoring unauthorized or inaccurate inquiries on your credit report.
Failing to monitor your credit report regularly for errors or discrepancies.

Factors Affecting Your Credit Score

While hard inquiries play a role in determining your credit score, they are just one of many factors considered by credit scoring models. Other factors include:

Payment History

Your payment history accounts for 35% of your credit score. Late payments, missed payments, and charge-offs can significantly harm your credit score.

Credit Utilization

Credit utilization, or the ratio of your credit balances to your credit limits, accounts for 30% of your credit score. Keeping your balances low relative to your limits can improve your credit score.

Credit History Length

The length of your credit history accounts for 15% of your credit score. Older accounts and a longer credit history can positively impact your score.

Strategies for Building Credit

Building and maintaining a strong credit score requires discipline and strategic planning. Here are some effective strategies for improving your credit health:

Pay Bills on Time

Timely payments are the most important factor in building credit. Set up automatic payments or reminders to ensure you never miss a payment.

Use Credit Responsibly

Keep your credit utilization low and avoid maxing out your credit cards. Aim to use no more than 30% of your available credit at any given time.

Monitor Your Credit Report

Regularly check your credit report for errors or discrepancies. Use free resources like AnnualCreditReport.com to obtain a copy of your credit report from each bureau once per year.

Conclusion

Understanding how long hard inquiries stay on your credit report and their impact on your credit score is essential for maintaining financial health. While hard inquiries remain on your report for two years, their effect on your credit score diminishes over time. By practicing responsible credit habits and minimizing unnecessary inquiries, you can protect your credit score and achieve long-term financial stability.

We encourage you to take action by monitoring your credit report regularly and disputing any unauthorized inquiries. Share this article with friends and family to help them understand the importance of managing hard inquiries effectively. For more tips on credit management and financial planning, explore our other resources on the site.

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