Free Traffic Legal Advice

I want to renew my photocard driving licence.
All well and good until the system asks me whether I have entitlement to groups C1, C1E, D1 and D1E

Category C1:
You can drive:
Vehicles weighing between 3,500 and 7,500 kg (with a trailer up to 750 kg), with no more than 8 passengers and driver

Category C1E:
Restrictions:

107 Not more than 8250 kg
You can drive:
Vehicles weighing between 3,500 and 7,500 kg (with a trailer over 750 kg), with no more than 8 passengers and driver. The combined weight of both can't exceed 12,000 kg

Category D1:
Restrictions:

101 Not for Hire or reward
You can drive:
Vehicles with no more than 16 passenger seats and driver and with a maximum length not exceeding 8 metres with a trailer up to 750 kg if 'valid from' date shown on the licence is on or after 19 January 2013. If date shown is before 19 January 2013 not limited to 8 m restriction

Category D1E:
Restrictions:

101 Not for Hire or reward
119 Weight limit does not apply
You can drive:
Vehicles with no more than 16 passenger seats and driver and with a maximum length not exceeding 8 metres with a trailer over 750 kg, provided that the Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM) of the combination formed does not exceed 12,000 kg if 'valid from' date shown on the licence is on or after 19 January 2013. If date shown is before 19 January 2013 not limited to 8 m restriction

The system then says I can't proceed online and have to submit a paper application.
The forms arrived today and it's a full-on medical examination report, application for lorry, bus or minibus driving licence with new photo and all the business.
I eventually spoke to someone at DVLA who said she wasn't sure but thought I could just do the online application and the Groups might be there on the new licence.
An utter shambles, to be honest.

Anyone got experience of this, please?

Why are you renewing? Change of address? Age?

You have grandfather rights to drive lorries up to 7500kg subject to restriction 101 and the same right to drive buses as described subject to 101. You don't need a medical for that unless you drive them for hire or reward, that means carrying passengers or goods and someone is paying for that service, not always the fact that the driver may be getting paid to do so.

If it's any help I sent my licence renewal to the DVLA in February, it expired in March and am still waiting for the licence to come back! But then I'm "over 70" and have to renew every year with a medical for bus driving. I would suggest you come under the section 88 exemption which enables you to continue driving as long as the DVLA has receipt of your renewal application.

I'm not certain if a medical is required for bus/lorry bit with 101 restriction. I know you don't need a driver CPC card with a 101 restriction.