You can get one free credit report per year from each of the three major credit bureaus
The federal government requires Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — the three companies that track your credit history — to give you one free report from each bureau every 12 months. You do not have to pay, and you do not have to buy credit monitoring or any other product to get it. The reports show your payment history, how much debt you owe, and how long your accounts have been open. Lenders use these reports to decide whether to lend you money and at what interest rate.
The official place to request your reports is AnnualCreditReport.com, a website run by the three bureaus themselves under federal law. You can also request reports by phone or mail, but the website is the fastest route. You will need your Social Security number, date of birth, address, and a way to verify your identity — usually by answering questions about your own financial history that only you would know.
Key Takeaways
- You get one free report from each of the three credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) every 12 months through AnnualCreditReport.com.
- The reports show your payment history, account balances, and how long you have held each account — information lenders use to make lending decisions.
- You can request all three reports at once or spread them out over the year to monitor your credit more frequently.
- After you receive your report, review it for errors like accounts you did not open or payments marked late when you paid on time.
How to request your reports online
Go to AnnualCreditReport.com and click the "Request Your Credit Reports" button. The site will ask you to enter your name, date of birth, Social Security number, and current address. After you submit this information, you will be asked to verify your identity by answering security questions — usually about credit accounts, addresses, or loans from your past. Answer as accurately as you can; the system is checking your answers against the credit bureau's records.
Once you pass the identity check, you can choose which reports you want. You can request all three at once, or you can request one bureau's report now and the others later in the year. Many people spread their requests out — getting one report every four months — so they can monitor their credit more regularly without paying for a service. After you choose, the site will show you your reports when ready on screen. You can also read them as a PDF or have them mailed to you.
What information appears on your credit report
Your credit report lists every credit account in your name: credit cards, car loans, mortgages, student loans, and any other debt. For each account, the report shows the creditor's name, when you opened it, your credit limit or loan amount, your current balance, and your payment history for the last seven years. It also lists your inquiries — times when a lender checked your credit because you applied for a loan or credit card — and any public records like judgments or tax liens.
The report does not include your credit score, which is a number lenders calculate from the information on your report. Some versions of your free report will show your score, but not all bureaus include it. If you want your score, you can get it free from many banks and credit card companies, which show it in your online account. You can also pay for a score separately, but you do not need to do that to review your report for errors.
How to check your report for mistakes
Read through each account listed and verify that you opened it. Look for accounts you do not recognize, which could mean fraud or identity theft. Check the payment history for each account — the report should show on-time payments as "paid as agreed" or similar language. If you see a late payment you know you made on time, or a payment that is not showing up at all, that is an error worth disputing.
Also check the personal information at the top of the report: your name, address, and Social Security number should be correct. If you see an address you never lived at or a name variation you do not use, that could signal someone else's information mixed into your file. These errors are less common but more serious because they can affect your credit score and your ability to borrow.
How to dispute errors on your report
If you find an error, you can dispute it directly with the credit bureau that issued the report. AnnualCreditReport.com will show you how to contact the bureau that made the mistake. You can also dispute the error with the company that reported it — for example, if your credit card company reported a late payment you did not make, you can dispute it with them. The bureau is required to investigate your dispute within 30 days and remove the information if it cannot verify it is correct.
Send your dispute in writing — by mail or through the bureau's online dispute tool if they have one. Include a copy of your report with the error highlighted, a brief explanation of why the information is wrong, and any supporting documents like payment receipts or statements. Keep a copy of everything you send. The bureau will contact you when the investigation is complete and tell you whether the error was removed or if they found it to be accurate.
When to request your reports and how often
You can request your free reports any time during the year. Many people request one report every four months so they can check their credit regularly without paying for monitoring. This approach also helps you catch fraud or errors sooner. If you are planning to explore for a loan or mortgage, request your reports a few weeks before you explore so you have time to dispute any errors that might affect your score.
If you have been a victim of identity theft or fraud, you may be able to request additional free reports beyond the yearly one. Contact the credit bureau directly to ask about this. You can also place a fraud alert or credit freeze on your account, which tells lenders to take extra steps to verify your identity before opening new accounts in your name.
Other ways to get your credit report
You can request your reports by phone by calling 1-877-322-8228, the official number for all three bureaus. You will need to provide your name, address, date of birth, and Social Security number. The bureau will mail your report to you, which takes about two weeks. You can also request reports by mail by filling out a form and sending it to the address listed on each bureau's website, though this is the slowest method.
Some credit card companies and banks show your credit report or score for free as a benefit of having an account with them. These are usually not your full official report from AnnualCreditReport.com, but they can give you a sense of what information is in your file. However, these free reports from banks do not replace your official annual reports, which are the ones lenders actually see.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to pay anything to get my free credit report?
No. AnnualCreditReport.com is the only official free source for your yearly reports. If another website charges you for a credit report, it is not the real government-required service. You may see ads for credit monitoring or credit score products on the site, but those are optional and cost money.
What if I cannot answer the security questions when I request my report online?
If the identity verification fails, you can request your reports by phone at 1-877-322-8228 or by mail. The phone line will ask you the same questions, but you can speak to a representative if you need help. The mail option takes longer but does not require you to answer security questions.
Can I request all three reports at the same time?
Yes. You can request reports from all three bureaus in one session on AnnualCreditReport.com. Many people do this to get a complete picture of their credit at once. You can also request them separately throughout the year if you prefer to monitor your credit more frequently.
Will requesting my free report hurt my credit score?
No. Checking your own credit report is called a "soft inquiry" and does not affect your score. Only hard inquiries — when a lender checks your credit because you applied for a loan — can lower your score slightly and temporarily.
What should I do if I find fraud on my credit report?
Dispute the fraudulent accounts with the credit bureau and the company that reported them. You can also file a report with the Federal Trade Commission at IdentityTheft.gov and place a fraud alert on your credit file, which tells lenders to verify your identity before opening new accounts.