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    Credit Repair Basics

    Hard vs Soft Credit Inquiries Explained

    By Credit Booster Team | Published April 10, 2026 | Updated April 11, 2026

    Not all credit checks are equal. Learn the difference between hard and soft inquiries and how they affect your score. Step-by-step guide from Credit Booste

    Hard vs Soft Inquiries

    Hard Inquiries

    Occur when you apply for credit. Each hard inquiry can lower your score by 5-10 points. They remain on your report for 2 years but only affect your score for 12 months.

    Common hard inquiries:

  1. Credit card applications
  2. Loan applications
  3. Mortgage pre-approvals
  4. Auto financing
  5. Apartment rental applications (sometimes)

    6. Soft Inquiries

    Don't affect your score at all. Only you can see them on your report.

    Common soft inquiries:

  6. Checking your own credit
  7. Pre-approval offers
  8. Background checks by employers
  9. Insurance quotes
  10. Account reviews by existing creditors

    11. Rate Shopping Protection

    If you're shopping for a mortgage, auto loan, or student loan, multiple inquiries within a 14-45 day window count as a single inquiry.

    Can You Remove Hard Inquiries?

    Yes, if:

  11. You didn't authorize the inquiry
  12. The creditor can't verify you applied
  13. The inquiry is older than 2 years but still showing

    14. CreditBooster identifies unauthorized hard inquiries during our initial $1 scan and includes them in our dispute strategy.

    AK

    Written by

    Alexander Katsman

    Credit & Finance Expert

    Alexander Katsman has since 2009 of experience in the credit and finance industry. He has helped thousands of clients improve their credit scores and secure financing for their businesses.

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