How Many Points Does a Hard Pull Affect Your Credit Score
Short answer
A hard pull typically reduces your credit score by about 5 points or fewer, though the exact effect depends on your credit history. Hard pulls stay on your credit report for up to two years and signal to lenders that you’re actively seeking new credit, which can influence their decisions during that time.
What Is a Hard Pull in Credit Terms?
A hard pull, also called a hard inquiry, occurs when a lender or company checks your credit report because you’ve applied for credit. This might be a credit card, loan, mortgage, or another form of credit. Unlike a soft pull—which happens when you check your own credit or companies make preapproval offers without your application—a hard pull requires your permission and indicates you want new credit. The credit bureaus record these inquiries on your credit report, and they can affect your credit score. For example, if you apply for a new credit card, the issuer will perform a hard pull to assess your creditworthiness before deciding whether to approve your application.
Understanding the difference between soft and hard pulls is essential because only hard pulls impact your credit score. You can see soft pulls on your report, but they don’t affect your credit rating and don’t require your permission. Hard pulls, on the other hand, remain visible to lenders and can influence credit decisions.
How Does a Hard Pull Affect Your Credit Score?
When a hard pull is made, credit scoring models interpret it as a sign you are seeking new credit. This can increase perceived risk, especially if you have several recent inquiries or a limited credit history. Typically, a hard inquiry will reduce your credit score by about 5 points or less. For example, if your score is 700, a new hard pull might lower it to around 695. The exact impact depends on factors like your credit age, number of accounts, and overall credit profile.
The impact is usually temporary. Most credit scoring models lessen the effect of hard inquiries after a few months, and the inquiry stops affecting your score after 12 months, even though it remains on your report for two years. If you have a long credit history with multiple accounts in good standing, the effect might be negligible. However, if your credit history is short or you already have several inquiries, the drop could be more noticeable.
Worked Example
Imagine you earn $3,000 a month and have a credit score of 710. You apply for a store credit card, triggering a hard pull. Your score might drop to around 705 temporarily. If you don’t apply for other credit and keep paying your bills on time, your score can rebound toward 710 in a few months.
Why Does a Hard Pull Matter for You?
Hard pulls matter because they can influence your ability to get approved for credit and the terms you receive, such as the interest rate. Lenders see each hard inquiry as a potential risk—multiple inquiries in a short time may indicate you’re desperate for credit or facing financial trouble. For instance, applying for several credit cards or loans within a few months could lead to a significant score drop (potentially 10 to 20 points), which might cause lenders to view you as less reliable.
This can affect not only credit card applications but also mortgage, auto, and personal loan approvals. If you’re planning a major purchase requiring financing, managing hard pulls carefully can help maintain a higher credit score and better loan terms.
How to Manage Hard Pulls
- Space out credit applications by at least 3 to 6 months
- Use prequalification offers that rely on soft pulls before applying
- Limit new credit applications to what you truly need
By managing your credit checks, you can keep your credit score healthier and improve your chances of getting the best credit offers.
What Are Common Terms Confused with Hard Pulls?
Many people confuse hard pulls with soft pulls and inquiries in general. Here is how these terms differ:
| Term | What It Is | Effect on Score | Requires Your Permission? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hard Pull | Credit check after you apply for credit | Usually lowers score | Yes |
| Soft Pull | Credit check for preapproval, or when you check your own credit | No effect on score | No (often automatic) |
| Inquiry | Any credit check, either hard or soft | Depends on type | Depends on type |
Understanding these differences helps you know when your credit score might be affected and when it won’t be. If you want to read more, see Hard Pull vs Soft Pull: Understanding Credit Checks and Hard Pull vs Inquiry: What You Need to Know.
How Long Does a Hard Pull Stay on Your Credit Report?
A hard pull remains on your credit report for up to two years. However, its impact on your credit score fades much sooner—usually within 12 months. Lenders generally focus on recent inquiries when evaluating credit risk, often considering only those made within the past year. This means a hard inquiry made 18 months ago is less likely to affect your chances of approval today.
Knowing when hard pulls fall off helps you plan your credit applications. For example, if you applied for a loan and had several hard pulls, waiting until some inquiries drop off can improve your score before applying for additional credit. You can check the exact timing of your inquiries by reviewing your credit report regularly. For more details, see When Do Hard Inquiries Fall Off Your Credit Report?.
What Should You Do After a Hard Pull?
After a hard pull, it’s important to monitor your credit report closely. Here are key steps:
- Check your credit report: Get your free credit reports from authorized sources to verify that the hard pull is accurate and authorized.
- Dispute errors: If you notice unauthorized hard inquiries, contact the credit bureaus immediately to dispute them.
- Avoid multiple applications: Resist applying for several credit products shortly after a hard pull to avoid compounding negative impacts.
- Focus on good credit habits: Make payments on time, reduce credit card balances, and maintain a healthy credit mix to help your score recover.
For example, if you applied for a personal loan and your score dropped, continue paying your bills on time and keep your credit utilization low. Over several months, your score should rebound.
How Can You Minimize the Impact of Hard Pulls?
To reduce the effect of hard pulls on your credit score, try these practical strategies:
- Prequalify with soft pulls: Many lenders offer prequalification that uses soft inquiries, which don’t affect your score. Use these to see your chances before applying.
- Shop within a short window: For mortgage, auto, or student loans, credit scoring models often treat multiple inquiries made within 14 to 45 days as one inquiry, limiting the damage. Plan to submit all applications in that timeframe.
- Limit credit requests: Only apply for new credit when necessary. Avoid applying for multiple credit cards or loans simultaneously.
- Maintain strong credit health: Pay bills on time, keep credit card balances low, and build a long credit history to make the effect of inquiries less significant.
By following these steps, you can protect your credit score while still accessing credit when needed.
What If You Find Unauthorized Hard Pulls?
Unauthorized hard pulls could indicate identity theft or fraud. If you see a hard inquiry you didn’t authorize, take these actions:
- Contact the company: Reach out to the lender or company that performed the inquiry to confirm whether it was authorized.
- Dispute with credit bureaus: File a dispute to remove the unauthorized inquiry from your credit report.
- Place fraud alerts or freezes: Contact the credit bureaus to add fraud alerts or freeze your credit to prevent further unauthorized activity.
- Monitor your credit: Use credit monitoring services or regularly check your reports to catch suspicious activity early.
If you suspect identity theft or fraud, report it immediately to authorities and consider contacting a trusted adult or legal aid for help. For more guidance, visit ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Frequently asked questions
Can a hard pull cause my credit score to drop more than 5 points?
Yes, while most single hard pulls reduce scores by around 5 points or fewer, people with shorter credit histories or fewer accounts may see a larger drop. Those with strong credit histories might see little to no effect.
Do multiple hard pulls in a short time count as one inquiry?
Yes, for mortgage, auto, and student loans, credit scoring models often treat multiple hard pulls within a 14 to 45-day window as a single inquiry to encourage rate shopping without harming your score too much.
How can I check if a hard pull affected my credit score?
Use free or paid credit monitoring tools to track your score. You can also review your credit report for new inquiries and check for any score changes after applications.
Can I get a hard pull removed from my credit report?
Only if the inquiry was unauthorized or fraudulent. Legitimate hard inquiries cannot be removed simply because they lower your score. Disputing unauthorized inquiries is the correct procedure.
Will paying off debt remove the effect of a hard pull?
No, paying off debt doesn’t remove the inquiry, but improving your overall credit health with timely payments and lower balances helps your score bounce back faster after a hard pull.