Checking your own credit score does not lower it. That’s one of the most common credit myths out there—and it keeps people from tracking their credit like they should.
The confusion usually comes from not knowing the difference between soft and hard credit inquiries. Only hard inquiries have a small, temporary impact on your credit score. Soft inquiries, like checking your own score or getting prequalified, have zero effect.
In this article, you’ll learn exactly how credit checks work, when they hurt your credit score, and how to protect your score while staying on top of your credit report.
Does checking your credit score hurt your credit?
No, checking your own credit score won’t hurt your credit. It counts as a soft inquiry, which has no impact on your credit score whatsoever.
A soft inquiry happens when you or someone else checks your credit report for informational purposes. That includes things like monitoring your score, getting prequalified for a loan, or being screened by a landlord or employer.
In contrast, a hard inquiry happens when you apply for new credit. It tells the credit bureaus that you’re actively seeking new debt, which can temporarily lower your score by a few points.
Many people confuse these two types of inquiries, especially since both appear on your credit report. But soft inquiries are only visible to you. Lenders only see hard inquiries when they review your report.
Hard Inquiries vs. Soft Inquiries: What’s the difference?
A credit inquiry is a record that someone accessed your credit report from a credit bureau—Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion. There are two types of credit inquiries, and they affect your credit score in different ways.
A hard inquiry happens when you apply for new credit. This includes:
- Credit cards
- Car loans
- Mortgages
- Personal loans
- Some student loans
Hard inquiries can temporarily lower your credit score by a few points. They stay on your credit report for two years, but their impact usually fades after about 12 months.
A soft inquiry occurs when a credit check is done for informational purposes rather than a credit application. These can include:
- Checking your own credit score
- Getting prequalified for a loan
- Background checks by landlords or employers
- Insurance, utility, or cellphone account checks
Soft inquiries have no impact on your credit score and are only visible to you—not to lenders.
How Rate Shopping Affects Credit Inquiries
If you’re applying for a mortgage, car loan, or student loan, multiple applications made within a short time frame—typically 30 to 45 days—are treated as a single hard inquiry. This scoring rule allows you to compare loan offers without damaging your credit score.
The inquiries will still appear on your credit report, but they won’t cause multiple drops to your score if they fall within the rate shopping window.
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When to Be Concerned About Hard Inquiries
A few hard inquiries spread out over time won’t hurt you much. But if you rack up several in a short period, it can send the wrong message to lenders.
Multiple applications for different types of credit—especially credit cards—can make it look like you’re desperate for cash or trying to overextend yourself. That can raise red flags during underwriting, even if your credit score is still in good shape.
Unlike rate shopping for a car loan or mortgage, credit card applications aren’t grouped together. Each one counts as a separate hard inquiry, which can quickly add up. If it’s not clear that you’re just shopping for one type of loan, lenders may assume you’re taking on more debt than they can see.
How to Dispute Unauthorized Credit Inquiries
Lenders need your permission before they can run a hard credit check. If you see a hard inquiry on your credit report that you don’t recognize, don’t ignore it.
Start by contacting the company that placed the inquiry. Ask them to provide documentation showing that you authorized it. If they can’t, request that they remove the inquiry from your credit report.
If the company doesn’t respond or refuses to cooperate, take it a step further and file a dispute with the credit bureau that’s reporting it. Be specific about which inquiry is incorrect and why it should be removed.
In most cases, it’s not worth disputing a single hard inquiry, unless you’re planning to apply for a mortgage or another major loan soon. But if you’re trying to clean up your credit before a big application, removing unauthorized inquiries can make a difference.
See also: Do-It-Yourself Credit Repair Guide for 2025
Safe Ways to Monitor Your Credit Score
Checking your credit score on your own is completely safe. It doesn’t affect your credit in any way and gives you the info you need to stay on top of your financial health.
Many banks and credit card companies now offer free credit scores as part of their services. You can also check your credit score through sites like Credit Karma or directly from myFICO if you want your FICO score.
Using a credit monitoring service can help you track changes to your score, catch errors early, and spot signs of identity theft. If someone tries to open an account in your name, you’ll get an alert—so you can act before real damage is done.
See also: Credit Cards Offering Free FICO Credit Scores
Best Practices to Avoid Hurting Your Credit With Inquiries
It’s easy to damage your credit score without realizing it—especially when applying for credit too often or in the wrong way. These simple habits can help you avoid unnecessary hard inquiries:
- Don’t apply for credit just to see your score – This results in a hard inquiry and isn’t necessary. Use free tools instead.
- Use prequalification tools to shop rates – These let you compare offers without impacting your credit score.
- Avoid multiple applications in a short window – Especially for credit cards. Too many inquiries can spook lenders.
- Spread out credit applications if possible – Space them out over time to minimize the impact on your credit score.
If you don’t want creditors accessing your information and filling your mailbox with junk mail, you can opt out at OptOutPrescreen.com.
Credit Monitoring Helps You Stay Ahead
Monitoring your credit score isn’t just about tracking progress—it’s one of the best ways to catch fraud and correct mistakes early.
When you check your score regularly, you can:
- Spot identity theft before it causes serious damage
- Track which actions are improving or hurting your credit score
- Catch reporting errors before lenders see them
Some reliable credit monitoring services include:
- Credit Karma – Free access to your TransUnion and Equifax credit reports
- myFICO – Provides real FICO Scores and full credit report monitoring
- Experian CreditWorks – Includes daily score updates and identity theft protection
Pick one that fits your needs, and make checking your credit part of your monthly routine.
Final Thoughts
Not all credit checks affect your score the same way. Checking your own credit score is completely safe—and smart.
Keep your credit report clean by monitoring it regularly, applying for new credit only when necessary, and disputing anything that doesn’t look right. By taking control of your credit file, you’ll be in a better position to qualify for loans, lock in better interest rates, and protect yourself from identity theft.
