Frequently Asked Questions

Business questions

Can my company use your KADOE service?

Your company can use our service if the DVLA has given you access to their vehicle keeper data. The DVLA vet all applications before they allow access to the data. In the first instance, you should make a Data Request to the DVLA specifying that you want ot use Valcon as your link provider.

How much does your service cost?

We charge a one-time setup fee and an ongoing service charge based on the number of enquiries you expect to make. We also charge for any customisation that you may need. The DVLA also charge a one-time setup fee and, in many cases, a charge for each enquiry that you make.

How long does it take to enrol on to our KADOE service?

This depends on how long the business processes take. Straight forward enrolments, assuming you have signed contracts with us and the DVLA, can be completed in 1-3 days. If you have not signed contracts, or if your technical requirements are complex, we can discuss the likely timeline based on our long experience of providing the service.

Are you the DVLA?

No we are not. We are authorised by the DVLA to act as a link provider for the transfer of data between enquirers and themselves. We are regularly vetted by the DVLA for technical, security and data management competence.

Why do we have to have contracts with your service and the DVLA?

Your company needs a contract with the DVLA because it controls who has access to their data, and for what purpose it is being used. Your company has a contract with us to cover our KADOE managed service.

What is a DVLA Audit?

From time to time the DVLA will visit consumers of their vehicle keeper data to ensure it is being queried and managed correctly. We are not party to this process. Indeed, the DVLA periodically audit us.

What management reports do you provide on our use of your service?

We regularly provide usage reports to our customers. If you would like other repots either ad-hoc or regularly, please raise a support ticket to let us know and we will do our best to accommodate you.

How are we billed for your service?

The one-time setup fee is billed on commencement of the setup. The service charge is billed annually at the start of each service year.

What happens if we exceed the number enquires in our banding?

We continually monitor the volumes of enquiries that we receive from you and do monthly reviews of usage vs banding. If a customer frequently exceeds their banding, we will invoice them pro-rata for the next band until the end of the service year.

Technical questions

How long does it take to get responses to vehicle enquiries?

You can expect to receive your responses between 30 minutes and 2 hours from the time we receive your enquiry.

Can we change the way we connect to your service after we have enrolled?

Yes. Please raise a support ticket to discuss your requirements.

What happens if we have problems with our software or connection?

You should report it to us using our support portal.

How are connections made between us and your service?

Connections made by the Desktop Client and applications using the REST API, connect using HTTPS. Customers using the SFTP gateway connect using SSH, and customers using EDI use the secure connection methods of their EDI network supplier.

Desktop Client

Do I have to pay for the Desktop Client?

No. We do not charge for the Desktop Client. Having enrolled on our service, you can download and install the client as often as you need to.

Can I install as many copies of the Desktop Client as I need?

Yes. If you are going to install more than one copy, please consider how it will be used. If you keep the installations separate, but connect from both, data sent by one copy of the program could be downloaded by the other. The Desktop Client has a number ways it can safely be used in a multi-user environment.

Will the Desktop Client run on Apple or Linux computers?

No, the Desktop Client runs on Microsoft Windows.

Will the Desktop Client run on all versions of Windows?

Yes. We have tested the Desktop Client on Windows XP, Windows 7 to Windows 11 and on versions of Windows server. In some cases it has been necessary to set the compatibility mode of the kadoe.exe program to Windows XP, service pack 3. The Desktop Client will need access to the internet to make the connections to the service.

Can the Desktop Client be run without someone looking over it?

Yes. The Desktop Client can be left to run unattended, making connections at predetermined times. It can also be called by a Windows scheduled task, to start, do a transfer and then close down.

REST API

Is the REST API something we should consider?

You should consider using the REST API if you are able to add programming to your systems. Our high volume customers with the ability to write their own software have found the API an ideal way to integrate their back-office with our service. You may like to consider the SFTP gateway as an alternative way of transferring data between your back-office and the KADOE service, as this may require less programming on your part.

How can we implement the REST API on our back-office

You can implement the API in any programming language that supports HTTPS connections. We know it has been implemented in Java, C#, Visual Basic and Python.

Is the REST API secure?

Yes. Connections are made over HTTPS and each message has credentials in its header.

How do we test our integration?

We have a test environment that you can use. This returns predictable response data to you.

Secure File Transfer (SFTP) Gateway

Is the SFTP Gateway something I should consider?

The SFTP gateway is the most flexible way to connect to our KADOE service. You exchange text based files with the service by transferring them manually, using a back-office program to transfer them, or by running a script.

How can I implement the SFTP Gateway on our back-office

You can use any programming language that supports SFTP connections. There are desktop programs which are free to download (for example Filezilla or WinSCP), or there are libraries for established programming languages.

Is the SFTP Gateway secure?

Yes. SFTP is a secure file transfer protocols. If you use this connection, you will also have your own credentials to our SFTP server in addition to the credentials for the KADOE service. Our firewall will include your IP address as a trusted client.