How many points does a personal loan drop your credit score?

Asked by: Darwin Sipes  |  Last update: January 30, 2026
Score: 4.6/5 (73 votes)

While a hard inquiry for a personal loan can trigger your credit scores to drop slightly (usually less than five points), your scores are likely to recover within a few months to one year—and the impact will decrease with time as you continue to make timely bill payments.

Will my credit score drop if I get a personal loan?

A personal loan will cause a slight hit to your credit score in the short term, but making on-time payments will bring it back up and can help improve your credit in the long run. A personal loan calculator can help determine the loan repayment term that's right for you.

How many points does a loan take off your credit score?

When you apply for a personal loan, lenders will run a hard credit check to access your credit report and history. Hard credit checks temporarily lower your credit score by as much as 10 points, but if you have excellent credit, applying for a loan may only cause your score to drop by five points or fewer.

Why did my credit score drop 40 points after paying off loan?

Yes, this is normal. This happens because of how your credit score is calculated. How many open lines of credit you have open plays a large part in that calculation, and because you payed off those loans, thus closing those lines of credit, the calculation gets affected in such a way that your score goes down.

How badly does a personal loan hurt your credit?

Applying for a personal loan can temporarily lower your credit scores by a few points. But the overall effect of the loan on your credit scores largely depends on how you manage the loan. If you make consistent, on-time payments, for example, getting a personal loan could help you improve your credit scores over time.

Personal Loan Will It HURT My Credit? : Personal Credit 101

22 related questions found

Do personal loans fall off credit report?

A personal loan can stay on your credit report anywhere from a few years to up to a decade, depending on how you manage your debt. Missed payments may remain on your report for seven years, while bankruptcies and closed accounts that you've paid in full could stay on your report for a decade.

What is one huge disadvantage of a personal loan?

Higher Interest Rates for Poor Credit

While personal loans can be a great way to get financial relief, they may come with higher interest rates, especially for those with lower credit scores. Lenders set these rates to compensate for the increased risk, which could make the loan more expensive for you.

How can I raise my credit score 200 points in 30 days?

How to Improve Your Credit Score
  1. Review Your Credit Reports. The best way to identify which steps are most important for you is to read through your credit reports. ...
  2. Pay Every Bill on Time. ...
  3. Maintain a Low Credit Utilization Rate. ...
  4. Avoid Unnecessary Credit Applications. ...
  5. Monitor Your Credit Regularly.

Is 650 a good credit score?

A FICO® Score of 650 places you within a population of consumers whose credit may be seen as Fair. Your 650 FICO® Score is lower than the average U.S. credit score. Statistically speaking, 28% of consumers with credit scores in the Fair range are likely to become seriously delinquent in the future.

Does paying off a personal loan help your credit?

The amount of debt you owe is the second-most-influential factor in the FICO credit score, so paying down debt, in general, can have a positive impact on your score. The loan no longer helps your length of history.

How much is 5 points on a loan?

Buying points is essentially like paying interest up-front. The points are expressed as a percentage of the total cost of the loan, and each point is equal to one percent.

How does a personal loan affect your taxes?

A personal loan doesn't generally qualify as taxable income because it's a form of debt that must be repaid. Even though you receive all the funds at once, it's not considered income if you pay it back as agreed. That's true even if you use the proceeds for personal needs, such as paying for an emergency expense.

How long does it take for a personal loan to show on a credit report?

A financial event that affects your credit normally takes 30 days or less from the close of the current billing cycle to be reflected on your credit report. Financial events on a credit report may include a loan application, missed payment, or bankruptcy.

How many points does your credit drop when getting a loan?

Formally applying for a personal loan triggers a hard credit check, which is a more thorough evaluation of your credit history. The inquiry usually knocks up to five points off your FICO credit score. A hard inquiry typically stays on your credit report for two years but only affects your score the first year.

What is a good credit score for a personal loan?

To qualify for a personal loan, you generally need a minimum credit score of at least 580 — though certain lenders have even lower requirements than that. However, your chances of getting a low interest personal loan rate are much higher if you have good to excellent credit, typically a score of 740 and above.

Does Cancelling a personal loan affect your credit score?

Closing a personal loan can cause a temporary dip in your score due to reduced credit mix or account age but improves your debt-to-income ratio.

How rare is an 800 credit score?

Even better, just over 1 in 5 people (21.2%) have an exceptional FICO credit score of 800 or above, all but guaranteeing access to the best products and interest rates.

How long does it take to get from 650 to 750 credit score?

Generally, it takes around 4-12 months to reach the point where you can apply for a loan. It will take a few months to get to 750 if your score is currently somewhere between 650 and 700.

How to get 900 credit score?

While older models of credit scores used to go as high as 900, you can no longer achieve a 900 credit score. The highest score you can receive today is 850. Anything above 800 is considered an excellent credit score.

What brings your credit score up the fastest?

In this article:
  • 1. Make On-Time Payments.
  • Pay Down Revolving Account Balances.
  • Don't Close Your Oldest Account.
  • Diversify the Types of Credit You Have.
  • Limit New Credit Applications.
  • Dispute Inaccurate Information on Your Credit Report.
  • Become an Authorized User.

How to ask for late payment forgiveness?

If you missed a payment because of extenuating circumstances and you've brought account current, you could try to contact the creditor or send a goodwill letter and ask them to remove the late payment.

Why is my FICO score 100 points lower than credit karma?

Your FICO Score is a credit score. But if your FICO score is different from another of your credit scores, it may be that the score you're viewing was calculated using one of the other scoring models that exist.

Which finance is best for a personal loan?

Best Personal Loans in India 2024
  1. HDFC Bank. Interest Rate: Starts at 10.50% per annum. ...
  2. Yes Bank. Interest Rate: Ranges from 11.25% to 21%. ...
  3. ICICI Bank. Interest Rate: Approximately 10.80% per annum. ...
  4. IndusInd Bank. Interest Rate: Starts at 10.49%, varying between 10.49% and 26%. ...
  5. Kotak Mahindra Bank.

What are the three most common mistakes people make when using a personal loan?

The following points narrate the top nine personal loan mistakes to avoid while applying for loan:
  • Neglecting to Check the Eligibility Criteria Before Applying. ...
  • Borrowing More than the Required Amount. ...
  • Choosing a Longer Tenure. ...
  • Not Considering Your Credit Score. ...
  • Not Checking the Fine Print, Including Loan Term.

Which loan is easy to borrow?

Eazzy Loan is an easy loan to get, No guarantors, No forms, no branch visits. You receive the loan instantly on your phone, saving you valuable time. It offers a flexible repayment period of up to 24 months.