Explainer10 June 2026
What a soft search does
A soft search checks certain information on your credit file to give an early indication of the options that may be available, without the same footprint a full application leaves. Because it is a soft search, it has no initial impact on your credit score. Only you can see soft searches on your report, and they are not visible to other lenders in the way a hard search is.
How eligibility tools use it
Many eligibility checkers use soft-search technology to match your details against lender criteria before you apply. This lets you see an indication of whether finance may be available and compare options, without committing to a full application straight away. It is designed to reduce the number of unnecessary hard-search footprints on your file.
When a hard search happens
If you decide to proceed with a specific lender, that lender will usually carry out a hard search as part of its full application and affordability checks. A hard search is recorded on your file and can be seen by other lenders, and several in a short space of time can affect your score. A responsible process will explain this and, where required, ask for your consent first.
Keeping your data safe
When you use an eligibility tool, you are sharing personal information, so it is worth checking how a firm handles your data. Reputable firms explain what they collect, why, and how it is protected in a privacy notice. You should never be asked to share more than is needed for the check.