 TITLE: Does Checking My Credit Lower My Score? CONTENT: How Often Can You Check Your Credit Score?\n------------------------------------------\nYou can check your credit score as often as you want without hurting your credit, and it's a good idea to do so regularly. At the very minimum, it's a good idea to check before applying for credit, whether it's a home loan, auto loan, credit card or something else.\nWhen you do this, you can help make sure there aren't any problems that could make it difficult to get approved for a new loan or credit account. By checking at least a few months in advance, it can also give you time to address anything that could be hurting your credit score.\nIt's also a good idea to check your credit report at least once a year. While your credit score is a numerical snapshot of your overall credit health, your credit report provides the actual information used to calculate your score.\nAs you check your credit report, look out for anything you don't recognize. If you find something odd, contact the lender to make sure it's legitimate. Sometimes, a lender may operate under a different name and report a name you're not familiar with to the credit bureaus; if you're applying for a car loan, the dealership may submit a credit application to multiple lenders.\nIf you find information you believe is inaccurate or even fraudulent, report it to the credit bureaus.\nYou can get a free credit report from each of the three credit bureaus every 12 months through AnnualCreditReport.com. You can also get a free copy of your Experian credit report online every 30 days. END