How Long Do Credit Card Inquiries Stay on Your Credit Report?
If you’ve applied for a new credit card recently, you might have noticed a hard inquiry appear on your credit report. Many people panic when they see it, worrying it will hurt their credit score for years. The good news? Credit card inquiries are temporary — and in some cases, you can have them removed even sooner.
Here’s exactly how long they stay on your report, how they affect your score, and what you can do to remove them faster.
How Long Do Credit Card Inquiries Stay?
Every time you apply for a credit card, the issuer performs a hard inquiry — a full credit check to decide whether to approve your application. These inquiries remain visible on your credit report for 24 months (2 years) from the date of the application.
However, most scoring models like FICO and VantageScore only factor them into your credit score for the first 12 months. After that, they no longer influence your score, even though they remain visible to lenders reviewing your report manually.
Do Credit Card Inquiries Hurt Your Score?
Yes — but only slightly. Each new hard inquiry may lower your score by 3 to 5 points temporarily. If you have several inquiries within a short period, the effect can add up. Fortunately, the impact fades within a few months as long as you keep good payment history and low balances.
- 🔹 Hard inquiries affect your score for 12 months
- 🔹 They stay listed on your report for 24 months
- 🔹 Soft inquiries (like pre-approvals) don’t affect your score at all
In other words, inquiries are short-term credit blemishes — not long-term damage. But if you’re applying for a mortgage, car loan, or major financing soon, removing old inquiries can help you gain a few extra points that make a big difference.
Can You Remove Credit Card Inquiries Early?
Yes, you can. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), any inquiry that was unauthorized, duplicated, or unverifiable must be deleted upon request. This includes situations where:
- You didn’t give permission for a credit check
- The same lender pulled your report multiple times
- The inquiry appears on the wrong credit bureau
Once disputed, the credit bureau has 30 days to verify the inquiry with the lender. If the lender cannot prove you authorized it, it must be removed immediately.
How to Minimize Future Inquiries
- Only apply for new cards when necessary
- Use pre-qualification tools that perform soft pulls only
- Avoid submitting multiple applications in a short time
- Check your credit reports regularly at CheckMyBureaus.com
By being strategic about your applications, you’ll keep your score stable and avoid unnecessary inquiries that linger for two years.
FAQ: Credit Card Inquiries
How long do credit card inquiries stay on Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion?
All three bureaus report inquiries for 24 months, but their scoring models stop counting them after 12.
Do inquiries drop off automatically?
Yes. After two years, the bureau automatically removes them — no action required.
Can removing inquiries raise your credit score?
Yes — especially if you remove multiple recent inquiries. Many clients see score improvements of 5–20 points.
Can you pay someone to remove them?
Yes. Our service uses FCRA-compliant online dispute processes that deliver fast, permanent results.
Related Reading
- Can I Pay Someone to Remove Hard Inquiries?
- How to Remove Hard Inquiries from Your Credit Report Online
- Hard vs. Soft Credit Inquiries Explained
Bottom Line
Credit card inquiries stay on your credit report for 24 months but only affect your score for the first year. If you’re planning to apply for new financing or simply want a cleaner report, you don’t have to wait two years — you can dispute and remove unverified inquiries right now. Our team makes the process fast, easy, and fully compliant with FCRA law.
