How Long Do Hard Inquiries Stay on Your Credit Report?
If you recently applied for a loan, credit card, mortgage, auto financing or business funding, you may be wondering how long do hard inquiries stay on your credit report and when do hard inquiries fall off your credit report.
A hard inquiry is a normal part of applying for credit. The important thing to understand is that the amount of time a hard inquiry remains visible on your credit report is different from the amount of time it may affect your credit score.
Quick Answer
Hard inquiries generally remain on your credit report for up to two years. However, FICO Scores generally consider hard inquiries from only the previous 12 months. This means an inquiry may still appear on your credit report even after it stops affecting a FICO Score.
Table of Contents
- How long do hard inquiries stay on your credit report?
- When do hard inquiries fall off your credit report?
- Hard inquiry timeline
- Experian, Equifax and TransUnion
- How hard inquiries affect your credit score
- How many points does a hard inquiry affect your score?
- Rate shopping and multiple inquiries
- Can hard inquiries be removed?
- Hard vs. soft inquiries
- Hard inquiries and business financing
- Frequently asked questions
How Long Do Hard Inquiries Stay on Your Credit Report?
A hard inquiry, also known as a hard credit check or hard pull, generally remains on your credit report for up to two years from the date of the inquiry.
According to FICO, hard inquiries may remain on a credit report for two years, while FICO Scores generally consider inquiries from only the previous 12 months.
| Visible on Credit Report Up to 2 Years A hard inquiry can remain listed on your credit report for approximately 24 months. | FICO Score Impact Up to 12 Months FICO Scores generally consider hard inquiries from the previous 12 months. | Impact Over Time Generally Declines The scoring effect of a single inquiry is typically temporary. |
When Do Hard Inquiries Fall Off Your Credit Report?
If you are asking when do hard inquiries fall off credit report records, the general answer is approximately two years after the date the inquiry occurred.
You normally do not need to request removal. A legitimate hard inquiry should automatically disappear after the reporting period expires.
For example, if a lender performs a hard credit inquiry in August 2026, the inquiry would generally be expected to disappear by approximately August 2028.
Hard Inquiry Timeline: 0 to 24 Months
| Time | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | The lender performs the hard credit inquiry. |
| 0–12 Months | The inquiry may be considered by FICO when calculating your score. |
| 12–24 Months | The inquiry may still remain visible on your credit report. |
| About 24 Months | The hard inquiry generally falls off your credit report automatically. |
How Long Do Hard Inquiries Stay on Experian, Equifax and TransUnion?
Consumers frequently ask whether hard inquiries stay on one credit bureau longer than another. In general, the reporting timeframe is similar across all three major nationwide credit bureaus.
| Experian Up to 2 Years Hard inquiries can remain on your Experian credit report for up to two years. | Equifax Up to 2 Years Hard inquiries may remain on your Equifax credit report for up to two years. | TransUnion Up to 2 Years Hard inquiries can remain on your TransUnion credit report for up to two years. |
For additional information, review guidance directly from Experian, Equifax and TransUnion.
How Do Hard Inquiries Affect Your Credit Score?
A hard inquiry occurs when a lender reviews your credit report in connection with an application for new credit.
Common examples include applying for a:
- Credit card
- Mortgage
- Auto loan
- Personal loan
- Student loan
- Business loan or certain business financing products
Hard inquiries are only one part of your overall credit profile. FICO includes inquiries within the broader new credit category rather than treating inquiries alone as a fixed percentage of your credit score.
How Many Points Does a Hard Inquiry Affect Your Credit Score?
There is no universal number of points that every hard inquiry will lower a credit score.
The effect depends on factors including your existing credit history, recent credit activity and the scoring model being used.
For many consumers, a single hard inquiry may have only a relatively small impact compared with factors such as payment history, credit utilization and overall debt management.
Do Multiple Hard Inquiries Count as One?
In certain situations, yes.
Credit scoring models recognize that consumers often compare several lenders when shopping for a mortgage, auto loan or student loan.
FICO explains that qualifying inquiries for certain types of rate shopping may be grouped together for scoring purposes when they occur within a specific shopping window.
Depending on the scoring model, that period may range from approximately 14 to 45 days.
You can read more in FICO’s rate-shopping guidance.
Can You Remove a Hard Inquiry From Your Credit Report?
A legitimate hard inquiry that you authorized generally cannot simply be removed because you no longer want it on your credit report.
The inquiry will usually remain until it naturally falls off after the reporting period expires.
What If You Don’t Recognize a Hard Inquiry?
If an inquiry looks unfamiliar, first verify the company name because a lender may appear under a different legal or corporate name on your credit report.
If you believe the inquiry is unauthorized or related to fraud, contact the creditor and the appropriate credit bureau.
You can also review your official credit reports through AnnualCreditReport.com.
Hard Inquiry vs. Soft Inquiry
| Soft Inquiry | Hard Inquiry |
|---|---|
| Usually does not affect your credit score | May affect your credit score |
| Can occur when checking your own credit | Typically occurs when applying for new credit |
| May be used for prequalification | May remain on your credit report for up to two years |
Why Hard Inquiries Matter for Business Financing
Business owners should understand how credit inquiries work before submitting multiple financing applications.
Depending on the lender and financing product, underwriting may consider personal credit, business credit, business revenue, existing obligations and other factors.
If you are comparing financing options, learn more about:
- Small Business Loans
- Business Lines of Credit
- Business Term Loans
- Business Credit Reports
- The 4 C’s of Credit for Getting a Business Loan
Frequently Asked Questions About Hard Inquiries
How long do hard inquiries stay on your credit report?
Hard inquiries generally remain on your credit report for up to two years.
When do hard inquiries fall off your credit report?
Hard inquiries generally fall off automatically approximately two years after the date they occurred.
Do hard inquiries affect your score for the full two years?
No. FICO Scores generally only consider hard inquiries from the previous 12 months.
How long do hard inquiries stay on Experian?
Experian states that hard inquiries may remain on your credit report for up to two years.
How long do hard inquiries stay on Equifax?
Equifax states that hard inquiries may remain on your credit report for up to two years.
How long do hard inquiries stay on TransUnion?
TransUnion states that hard inquiries may remain on your credit report for up to two years.
Does checking your own credit create a hard inquiry?
No. Checking your own credit is generally considered a soft inquiry and does not affect your credit score.
Final Takeaway
Hard inquiries generally stay on your credit report for up to two years, but the scoring impact usually lasts for less time. FICO generally considers inquiries from the previous 12 months.
If you are preparing to apply for business financing, understanding your credit profile before submitting multiple applications can help you make more informed decisions.
