A hard credit pull (also 'hard inquiry') happens when you formally apply for credit — a loan, a credit card, an auto lease, sometimes an apartment. Hard pulls are recorded on your credit report and can shave a few points off your score.
How much it impacts your score
A single hard inquiry typically lowers your FICO score by under 5 points and the impact fades within a few months. Hard inquiries fall off your credit report after two years and stop affecting your score after one year.
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FICO and VantageScore treat multiple hard pulls for the same loan type (mortgage, auto, student) within a 14–45 day window as a single inquiry. This lets you shop rates without compounding the score hit. The window varies by scoring model — be conservative and stay within 14 days.
Frequently asked questions
Will pre-qualification trigger a hard pull?
No. Pre-qualification uses a soft pull. The hard pull happens only when you accept an offer and formally apply.