Every time you apply for credit, check your credit score, or undergo a financial review, a lender or service provider may access your credit report. These credit checks fall into two categories known as soft pulls and hard pulls. Understanding the difference between them is essential for protecting your credit score and managing your financial health.
Soft pulls are informational and do not signal risk to lenders. Hard pulls are evaluative and occur when you are actively seeking to borrow money.
| Type of Inquiry | Impact on Credit Score | When It Occurs | Visible to Lenders |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soft Pull | No impact | Background checks, prequalification, personal score checks | No |
| Hard Pull | May lower score temporarily | Credit applications for loans or credit cards | Yes |
The exact impact varies depending on your credit profile. People with strong credit may see a smaller drop, while those with limited history may see a larger one.
| Credit Profile | Typical Score Impact |
|---|---|
| Excellent credit | 0 to 5 points |
| Good credit | 3 to 7 points |
| Fair or poor credit | 5 to 10 points |
Hard inquiries remain on your credit report for two years, but they only influence your score for about twelve months.
| Time After Inquiry | Effect on Score |
|---|---|
| First 3 months | Strongest impact |
| 3 to 12 months | Reduced impact |
| 12 to 24 months | No impact |
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.
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