Improving Your Credit Scores: The Rule Of 45

The Rule of 45 allows consumers to shop for the best mortgage, auto loan, or student loan rates without multiple credit inquiries impacting their credit score. Within a 45-day period, multiple inquiries for the same type of loan are counted as a single inquiry, thus minimizing the negative effect on credit scores. This rule does not apply to credit cards or personal loans, and it does not allow for mixing different types of loan inquiries.