Because some people feel the need to speak about things they have never bothered to research here are the facts (pulled from creditkarma.com but can be found on MANY other sources as well)

Soft Credit Inquiries:
Always
•Checking your own credit score
•Pre-approved credit card and loan offers
•Background check, such as those done by employers
Sometimes
•Applying to rent an apartment
•Verification of identity by a financial institution, such as a credit union or stock brokerage
•Renting a car
•Getting a TV/high-speed internet account
•Opening a checking, savings, or money market account

Hard Inquiries:
Always
•Applying for an auto loan, student loan, business loan, or personal loan
•Applying for a credit card
•Applying for a mortgageSometimes
•Applying to rent an apartment
•Verification of identity by a financial institution, such as a credit union or stock brokerage
•Renting a car
•Getting a TV/high-speed internet account
•Opening a checking, savings, or money market account
•Requesting a credit limit increase
•Getting a cell phone contract


Some credit pulling web sites will charge you less if your pull can only look back 3 months at other inquiries. This is still a hard inquiry. I learned this the hard way because of an upset customer.