Credit inquiries in Canada: how long they stay and how to limit them
Quick summary
The FCAC says lender credit inquiries stay on your Equifax report for 3 years and on your TransUnion report for 6 years. Checking your own report or score will not affect your credit rating. Applying for many cards or loans close together can look like urgent credit seeking, but car loan or mortgage quotes within 2 weeks count as one inquiry. Start by getting your free credit reports.
Checked November 4, 2026. Main source: FCAC: Credit report and score basics (modified July 1, 2026). See all 4 sources.
Key facts
- Equifax
- Lender credit inquiries stay 3 years
- Source: FCAC, modified July 1, 2026
- TransUnion
- Lender credit inquiries stay 6 years
- Source: FCAC, modified July 1, 2026
- Car loan or mortgage quotes
- Quotes within a 2 week period count as one inquiry
- Source: FCAC, modified July 1, 2026
- Checking your own report or score
- Will not affect your credit rating
- Source: FCAC, modified July 1, 2026
What an inquiry is
Your credit report lists lender inquiries from the past three years, the FCAC says, along with your accounts, payment history and other records. An inquiry shows that a lender looked at your report, usually because you applied for credit.
How long they stay
| Bureau | How long lender inquiries stay |
|---|---|
| Equifax | 3 years |
| TransUnion | 6 years |
These periods are from the FCAC. Its report basics page says reports list inquiries from the past three years. We could not tell how that fits with the 6 year TransUnion period, so check your own TransUnion report.
How to limit them
- Apply only when you need credit.
- Avoid many applications close together. The FCAC says they can look like urgent credit seeking.
- Shop for a car loan or mortgage in a short window. Quotes within 2 weeks count as one inquiry.
- Check your own report as often as you like. It will not affect your rating.
What we could not confirm
- The difference between hard and soft inquiries. The FCAC pages we read do not use those words.
- How many points one inquiry costs. No official page we read gives a number.
Check what you learned
3 quick questions. Nothing is saved or sent.
1. How long do lender inquiries stay on an Equifax report, says the FCAC?
2. Does checking your own credit report or score affect your credit rating?
3. You ask 3 lenders for car loan quotes within 2 weeks. How many inquiries count?
Questions people ask
How long do credit inquiries stay on my credit report in Canada?
The FCAC says 3 years with Equifax and 6 years with TransUnion.
Does checking my own credit hurt my score?
No. The FCAC says checking your credit report or score will not affect your credit rating.
Do several mortgage quotes count as several inquiries?
The FCAC says quotes for a car loan or mortgage within a 2 week period count as one inquiry.