Is 2 hard inquiries bad?

Asked by: Floyd Harvey  |  Last update: February 2, 2026
Score: 4.9/5 (3 votes)

Each hard inquiry may cause your credit score to drop by a few points. There's no such thing as “too many” hard inquiries, but multiple credit inquiries within a short window of time can suggest that you might be a risky borrower.

How much does 2 hard inquiry affect credit score?

However, multiple hard inquiries can deplete your score by as much as 10 points each time they happen. People with six or more recent hard inquiries are eight times as likely to file for bankruptcy than those with none.

Is it bad to have two hard inquiries within 30 days?

Is your concern that multiple hard inquiries will negatively affect your credit score? Multiple hard inquiries that show up with a short period of time (typically 30 days as is typical with car or house purchases) only affect your score as if there were a single inquiry.

Is 2 hard searches bad?

Each hard check is recorded on your report, so any company searching it will be able to see that you've applied for credit. Too many hard credit checks over a short period of time can affect your credit score for six months, reducing your ability to get approved for credit in the future.

How many hard inquiries is too much?

The answer differs from lender to lender, but most consider six total inquiries on a report at one time to be too many to gain approval for an additional credit card or loan.

Hard Inquiries Explained 2023 - What They Won't Tell You

27 related questions found

Is 3 hard inquiries in a year bad?

There's no such thing as “too many” hard credit inquiries, but multiple applications for new credit accounts within a short time frame may point to a risky borrower. Rate shopping for a particular loan, however, may be treated as a single inquiry and have minimal impact on your creditworthiness.

How long until hard inquiries fall off?

How Long Do Hard Inquiries Stay on Your Credit Report? Hard inquiries stay on your credit reports for up to two years before they fall off naturally. If you have legitimate hard inquiries, you'll likely need to wait until the 24-month period is over to see them disappear.

How long should I wait between hard inquiries?

Lenders typically perform a hard inquiry on your credit if you're applying for a mortgage, auto loan, credit card or student loan. Space out your credit applications — about every six months — to avoid major damage to your score.

What is the secret way to remove hard inquiries?

Unfortunately, there are no secret ways to remove hard inquiries from your credit report unless they are there in error. If you see a hard inquiry that you did not authorize, you can file a dispute with the three reporting credit bureaus and the business that reported the information.

Will my credit score go up if a hard search is removed?

In most cases, hard inquiries have very little if any impact on your credit scores—and they have no effect after one year from the date the inquiry was made. So when a hard inquiry is removed from your credit reports, your scores may not improve much—or see any movement at all.

How far apart should hard inquiries be?

Keeping the applications and resulting hard inquiries in a 14-day period could limit the impact on all your credit scores. Get preapproved for personal loans and credit cards. FICO Scores don't deduplicate hard inquiries for personal loans and cards.

Does checking the FICO score lower it?

No, checking your own credit score does not lower it.

How many points is a hard inquiry?

A hard credit inquiry could lower your credit score by as much as 10 points, though in many cases, the damage probably won't be that significant. As FICO explains, “For most people, one additional credit inquiry will take less than five points off their FICO Scores.”

Is it bad to have 2 hard inquiries in one day?

Although a single hard inquiry might only hurt your credit scores a little, multiple hard inquiries could increase the impact. And an application can lead to a hard inquiry even if the creditor denies your application.

Is credit karma accurate?

Overall, Credit Karma may produce a different result than one or more of the three major credit bureaus directly. The slight differences in calculations between FICO and VantageScore can lead to significant variances in credit scores, making Credit Karma less accurate than most may appreciate.

How many credit cards are too many?

Owning more than two or three credit cards can become unmanageable for many people. However, your credit needs and financial situation are unique, so there's no hard and fast rule about how many credit cards are too many. The important thing is to make sure that you use your credit cards responsibly.

Is it illegal to remove hard inquiries?

A hard inquiry happens when a company checks your credit report because you have applied for credit. You can dispute hard inquiries you didn't authorize, but you cannot remove legitimate credit checks. Unauthorized hard inquiries can be a warning sign of identity theft.

What is a goodwill deletion?

A goodwill letter is a formal request to a creditor asking them to remove a negative mark, like a late payment, from your credit report. Goodwill letters are most effective when the late payment was an isolated incident caused by unforeseen circumstances, such as a financial hardship or medical emergency.

How do I increase my credit score in 30 days?

Improving your credit in 30 days is possible. Ways to do so include paying off credit card debt, becoming an authorized user, paying your bills on time and disputing inaccurate credit report information.

What is the 5/24 rule?

What is the 5/24 rule? Many card issuers have criteria for who can qualify for new accounts, but Chase is perhaps the most strict. Chase's 5/24 rule means that you can't be approved for most Chase cards if you've opened five or more personal credit cards (from any card issuer) within the past 24 months.

What is considered a good credit score?

For a score with a range of 300 to 850, a credit score of 670 to 739 is considered good. Credit scores of 740 and above are very good while 800 and higher are excellent.

What is the 2:30 rule for Chase?

2/30 Rule. The 2/30 rule says that you can only have two applications every 30 days or else you'll automatically be rejected.

Is it true that after 7 years your credit is clear?

Most negative items should automatically fall off your credit reports seven years from the date of your first missed payment, at which point your credit score may start rising. But if you are otherwise using credit responsibly, your score may rebound to its starting point within three months to six years.

What habit lowers your credit score?

Late or missed payments can cause your credit score to decline. The impact can vary depending on your credit score — the higher your score, the more likely you are to see a steep drop.

Is 700 a good credit score?

A 700 credit score is considered a good score on the most common credit score range, which runs from 300 to 850. How does your score compare with others? You're within the good credit score range, which runs from 690 to 719.