You’re entitled to a free credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus—Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion—every 12 months. It’s your legal right under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
Checking all three reports is one of the easiest ways to catch credit reporting errors, spot identity theft early, and stay on top of your financial health. Here’s exactly how to get all three reports for free, with no strings attached.
Why Your Credit Report Matters
Your credit report plays a big role in your financial life. It’s what lenders, landlords, and sometimes employers use to evaluate your credit habits and decide whether to approve you for credit, housing, or even a job.
Mistakes or outdated information on your credit report can cost you money or opportunities. That’s why it’s smart to check your credit report regularly—especially since you can get all three for free.
What’s in a credit report?
Your credit report is a detailed record of how you’ve handled credit over time. It includes:
- Personal information: Your name, current and past addresses, Social Security number, and date of birth.
- Credit accounts: Each loan or credit card you’ve opened, including balances, payment history, and account status.
- Inquiries: A list of who has checked your credit report, including lenders and service providers.
- Collections: Any debts that were turned over to a collection agency.
- Public records: Items like bankruptcies, tax liens, or civil judgments (though most public records have been removed from credit reports in recent years).
Each account listed will show details such as the date it was opened, the credit limit or loan amount, your current balance, and payment history.
The Three Major Credit Bureaus
There are three nationwide credit bureaus that maintain your credit reports: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. Each credit bureau collects information independently, which means the data on your reports may not always match.
That’s why it’s important to check all three credit reports. One report might show an error or account that the others don’t.
How to Get All Three Credit Reports for Free
Federal law gives you the right to one free credit report from each credit bureau every 12 months. The official place to get them is AnnualCreditReport.com, which is authorized by the federal government.
Here’s how to do it:
- Visit AnnualCreditReport.com.
- Choose all three credit bureaus—Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.
- Verify your identity by answering a few questions about your financial accounts.
- Download or print your reports so you can review them offline.
You don’t need to sign up for anything or enter your credit card. The process is completely free. If you prefer, you can also request your reports by phone or mail using the same site.
Other Ways to Get Free Credit Reports
Beyond the annual credit reports from AnnualCreditReport.com, you may qualify for additional free credit reports under certain circumstances. These include:
- You were denied credit, insurance, or employment based on a credit report.
- You’re unemployed and plan to apply for a job within 60 days.
- You’re receiving public assistance.
- You believe your credit report has inaccurate information due to fraud or identity theft.
You have 60 days from the date you’re notified of a denial to request your free credit report from the credit bureau that was used in the decision.
Some states—like Colorado, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Vermont—also require credit bureaus to offer residents an additional free credit report each year. Check with your state’s consumer protection office to see what’s available.
To request one of these free credit reports, you’ll need to contact each credit bureau directly. Equifax and TransUnion make it easy to order online. For Experian, you may need to call (866) 200-6020 to confirm eligibility.
See also: Credit Bureau Phone Numbers & Addresses (Updated 2025)
Can you get a free credit score too?
Free credit reports don’t come with a free credit score. Credit bureaus are not required by law to include your credit score when you request your report.
That said, there are ways to see your credit score for free:
- Many credit card companies offer free credit score access as part of their customer benefits.
- Credit monitoring tools like Credit Karma and Credit Sesame provide free credit scores and credit report summaries.
- Some lenders and personal finance apps show your score when you sign up for their services.
Be aware that many free credit scores are VantageScore, not FICO. While VantageScore is useful for tracking trends, most lenders use FICO scores when making lending decisions.
How often can you get a free credit report?
You’re entitled to one free credit report every 12 months from each of the three credit bureaus. That means you can check your reports at three different times during the year if you space them out—one every four months.
In addition to your annual reports, you may also qualify for more free reports based on certain conditions like denial of credit or suspected identity theft.
Keeping track of when you request your reports can help you stay on schedule and monitor your credit more regularly.
Signs of Identity Theft to Watch For
Your credit report is often the first place to spot signs of identity theft. Watch out for:
- Accounts you don’t recognize
- Incorrect personal information like an unknown address or employer
- Hard inquiries you didn’t authorize
- Late payments on accounts you never opened
If anything looks suspicious, take action right away. The sooner you catch a problem, the easier it is to limit the damage and fix your credit.
How to Dispute Errors on Your Credit Report
If you see something inaccurate on your credit report—like a payment marked late when you paid on time or an account that isn’t yours—you have the right to dispute it.
Here’s how to do it:
- Gather evidence to support your claim, such as bank statements or payment confirmations.
- Submit a dispute directly to the credit bureau that shows the error. You can do this online, by mail, or by phone.
- Wait for the investigation. The credit bureau usually has 30 days to review and respond. If you used a free credit report, they may have up to 45 days.
You can write your own dispute letter or use a sample template to make the process easier. If you’d rather not handle it yourself, a credit repair company can help manage disputes on your behalf.
We also offer free credit repair letters you can use to dispute errors, request goodwill adjustments, or deal with debt collectors. These templates can save you time and help you say the right thing—whether you’re fixing mistakes on your credit report or trying to clean up negative items.
Final Thoughts
Checking your credit reports regularly is one of the smartest things you can do to protect your finances. It gives you a clear view of where you stand, helps you catch errors early, and puts you in a better position when applying for credit.
Getting all three credit reports for free is easy—and there’s no reason not to take advantage of it. Mark your calendar, review your reports every year, and use that information to take control of your credit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does checking my credit report hurt my credit score?
No. Checking your own credit report is considered a soft pull, which is not reported to the credit bureaus and has no impact on your credit score.
Why do the three credit reports sometimes show different information?
Each credit bureau collects data independently, so some lenders may report to one or two bureaus instead of all three. That’s why it’s important to check all three reports to get the full picture.
How long does it take to get my free credit report?
It typically takes about 15 minutes to complete the online form and receive your credit report.
Can I request credit reports for my spouse or children?
You can’t request someone else’s credit report without their written permission, even if you’re married. For minors, credit reports usually don’t exist unless their identity has been misused. If you suspect identity theft, you can contact the credit bureaus to check.
