Could be the issue, but we can't be sure. The DVLA is suffering long delays currently, which we expect to lessen as the year goes on (assuming we don't go into another national lockdown). You can drive while the DVLA is processing your licence, but only if they're processing it so if you can't manage to renew online due to the error then that may leave you unable to drive until it's sorted. The DVLA has told us they're taking calls again now from non-key workers but we've had multiple reports from readers that they can't get through. I'm afraid it sounds like you've come upon the renewal error at seemingly the worst possible time.