Here is a question that resurfaces at least twice a year:
I should have a credit score of over 800 for the best rates, right?
Well, not necessarily.  FICO scores range from 300 to 850; most lenders have a minimum score required for loan or credit card approval, typically in the mid 600s to lower 700s right now.
Yes, it [...]

One of the items that is included in your credit report is the section called “Inquiries”.  This section is included in the “New Credit” part of your score, which accounts for 10% of the FICO scores.   
There are two types of Inquiries.
When you check your own credit reports, whether your annual, no-cost ones, or your FICO [...]

What has to be on a credit report to calculate a FICO score?
According to the company that created the FICO scoring formula, Fair Isaacs Corporation, there are three basic requirements that a credit report must contain to calculate a FICO score:
At least one account that has been open for six months or more
At least one [...]

There are five categories that make up the FICO score, and most of the other "consumer/educational scores" that are sold also use the same categories in calculating the score.
Many people want to know what they can do to get higher credit scores.  What's the best thing to do to help scores?  Pay all your bills [...]

We get this question quite a bit:
Does checking your own credit hurt your scores?
NO
When you check your own credit reports, whether your annual, no-cost ones, or your FICO reports with your actual FICO scores, or some reports you get with a monitoring service you're enrolled in, FICO says it NEVER counts against the consumer to obtain [...]

When you apply for a loan of any type and the company checks your credit to determine approval for that loan, you will get an Inquiry on your credit report.   When the consumer initiates the application it is considered a Hard Inquiry and will be counted in the New Credit part your score. 
A Soft Inquiry will [...]