Checking your own credit report does not lower your FICO score
When you look at your own credit report or credit score through Experian or any other credit bureau, it has no impact on your FICO score. This type of check is called a soft inquiry or soft pull, and credit scoring models ignore it completely. Only hard inquiries — when a lender checks your credit as part of a lending decision — can lower your score, and only by a few points.
The confusion comes from mixing up two different things: checking your own report (which does nothing) and applying for credit (which triggers a hard inquiry). You can review your Experian account, your credit score, and your credit history as often as you want without any penalty.
Key Takeaways
- Soft inquiries from checking your own credit report do not affect your FICO score at all.
- Hard inquiries from lenders reviewing your credit for a loan or credit card application may lower your score by a few points temporarily.
- You can check your Experian report and score monthly, weekly, or daily without any score damage.
- Multiple hard inquiries within 14 to 45 days for the same type of credit (like car loans) typically count as one inquiry.
The difference between soft and hard inquiries
A soft inquiry happens when you pull your own credit report, when a company checks your credit for a pre-approved offer, or when an employer runs a background check. Soft inquiries do not appear on the version of your credit report that lenders see, and they never affect your FICO score. You can run as many soft inquiries as you want.
A hard inquiry happens when you submit an application for a credit card, mortgage, auto loan, or other credit product. The lender pulls your full credit report to decide whether to lend to you. Hard inquiries do show on your credit report and can lower your FICO score by a few points — typically 5 to 10 points per inquiry. The impact is temporary and fades over time, usually within three to six months.
Experian and other bureaus distinguish between the two on your report. When you log into your Experian account and view your score, you are running a soft inquiry. When you apply for a credit card and the card issuer checks your credit, that is a hard inquiry.
How many hard inquiries is too many
A single hard inquiry has a small effect on your score. Multiple hard inquiries in a short time can add up, but credit scoring models account for rate shopping. If you apply for several auto loans or mortgages within 14 to 45 days, those inquiries typically count as a single inquiry for scoring purposes. The exact window depends on which FICO score version the lender uses, but the principle is the same: the model assumes you are shopping for the best rate, not taking on multiple new debts.
Hard inquiries stay on your credit report for two years, but their impact on your score fades much faster — usually within three to six months. After that time, the inquiry is still visible on your report but no longer pulls down your score.
Soft inquiries do not count toward this limit at all. You can check your Experian account 100 times in a month and it will not trigger a single hard inquiry or affect your score.
Why you should check your Experian account regularly
Checking your credit report regularly is one of the best ways to catch identity theft, reporting errors, or fraud. You can spot unauthorized accounts, incorrect payment history, or accounts that do not belong to you. Since checking your own report does not hurt your score, there is no reason to avoid it.
You can check your Experian report for free once per year through AnnualCreditReport.com, which is the official government-authorized site. You can also sign up for Experian's free monitoring service, which lets you check your score and report as often as you want. Many credit card issuers and banks also offer free credit score monitoring to their customers.
What actually lowers your FICO score
Hard inquiries are just one small factor in your FICO score. The biggest impacts come from payment history (35 percent of your score), amounts owed (30 percent), length of credit history (15 percent), credit mix (10 percent), and new credit (10 percent). Missing a payment, maxing out a credit card, or closing an old account will hurt your score far more than a hard inquiry.
If you are worried about your score dropping, focus on paying bills on time and keeping credit card balances low. Checking your own report and score will never be the problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does checking my credit score on Experian hurt my score?
No. Checking your own score through Experian is a soft inquiry and does not affect your FICO score. You can check it as often as you want without any penalty.
Will Experian monitoring lower my score?
No. Experian's free credit monitoring service only runs soft inquiries when you check your report or score. It will not lower your FICO score.
How many hard inquiries can I have before my score drops?
Even one hard inquiry can lower your score slightly, but the impact is small — usually 5 to 10 points. Multiple inquiries within 14 to 45 days for the same type of credit count as one inquiry, so rate shopping does not compound the damage.
Can I remove hard inquiries from my credit report?
Hard inquiries stay on your report for two years, but you can dispute them if they are unauthorized. Contact Experian directly if you see an inquiry you did not authorize. Authorized inquiries cannot be removed early.
How long does a hard inquiry affect my score?
The impact of a hard inquiry fades within three to six months, though the inquiry itself remains on your report for two years. After the initial impact period, the inquiry no longer pulls down your score.