Can I run my credit reports without it being an "inquiry" ? (loan, insurance)

[CristenS]

Is there any way to have my credit score checked without it showing up as an inquiry? I've read that if I check it myself, it does not show up as an inquiry, as it does when lenders check it. Is this true? If I want to check it every few months, will I simply have to pay for it again each time?

[Book Lover 21]

Not all credit inquiries count toward your FICO® score. When you check your credit report, you may notice that a number of credit inquiries have been made, sometimes from businesses that you don’t know. But the only inquiries that count toward your FICO score are the ones that result from your applications for new credit.

• Inquiries that count toward your FICO score.
  There is only one type of credit inquiry that counts toward your FICO score. When you apply for a mortgage, auto loan or other credit, you authorize the lender to request a copy of your credit report. These types of inquiries, prompted by your own actions, appear on your credit report and are included in your FICO score.
• Inquiries that don’t count toward your FICO score.
  Your own credit report requests, credit checks made by businesses to offer you goods or services, or inquiries made by businesses with whom you already have a credit account do not count toward your FICO score. Credit checks by prospective employers also do not count. These types of inquiries may appear on your credit report, but they are not included in your FICO score.

Your FICO score is not affected when you check your credit. Checking your credit reports regularly to be sure they are accurate and error-free is a good idea. In fact, maintaining accurate credit reports is a part of good credit management, which can help to improve your FICO scores over time. You can order more than one of your credit reports with FICOscores right here at myFICO.com. Checking your score at myFICO does not count as an inquiry and will not hurt your FICO score.

[bbkaren]

Last I knew you could get a copy of your report once a year for free from each of the agencies.

If you want to monitor it, you can also join one of the "services" that lets you look at it online whenever you want.

[DDevil]

Originally Posted by Book Lover 21

Not all credit inquiries count toward your FICO® score. [*]Inquiries that don’t count toward your FICO score.
Your own credit report requests, credit checks made by businesses to offer you goods or services,

Thanks for the info, and can you please clarify this?
Suppose I want to switch to another auto insurance company, and they do a credit check to offer me insurance, doesnt this affect my score?
I've been putting this off just to make my score better.
Thanks in advance.

[rlrl]

because insurance not in the category listed under book lover's post. however it can possibly affect your premium amount for the insurance