Free Tool
Inquiry Impact Planner
Track your hard inquiries, estimate score impact of planned applications, and plan around the 45-day rate shopping deduplication window.
Current situation
Inquiries older than 12 months no longer count toward FICO score.
Planned applications
✓ Rate shopping: mortgage/auto/student inquiries within 45 days count as ONE inquiry in FICO 8.
Score impact analysis
Current
Impact
After
Inquiry fall-off timeline
Hard inquiries stop affecting your FICO score after 12 months, and disappear from your report after 24 months.
Inquiry Impact by Count (FICO Estimates)
| Active Inquiries | Score Impact | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | None | Optimal |
| 1–2 | –5 to –10 pts | Minor impact |
| 3–5 | –10 to –20 pts | Moderate |
| 6+ | –20 to –35+ pts | Significant |
The 45-Day Rate Shopping Rule
When shopping for a mortgage, auto loan, or student loan, FICO groups multiple inquiries within a 45-day window into a single inquiry. This lets you compare rates without penalty.
How to use it: Get all your loan quotes within a 45-day window. The first inquiry sets the clock. Start your shopping on the same day you're ready to commit.
Does not apply to: Credit cards, personal loans, or other revolving accounts. Each credit card application is a separate hard inquiry.
Learn more about inquiry types →Educational content only. This page is for informational purposes and does not constitute legal, tax, or personal financial advice. Results vary. Laws and bureau processes change. Consult the CFPB, FTC, and AnnualCreditReport.com for authoritative guidance. Full disclaimer
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