Why do trips to Spain not count?

It was not a day trip but a number of days at a time  

Because the cumulative rule applies, just because you've visited Spain for a day or a number of days it doesn't restart your 6 months in any 12 months.
A friend of ours was caught end of last year, given 2 options pay fines and matriculate car €13,000 for his car or remove from country by a specified date.

You might have insurance and tax but do you have a valid MOT if required, a UK Registered car can only be MOT'd in the UK a Portuguese MOT is worthless. A UK registered car must be road legal in the UK to be road legal here.  

- Canoeman

Your only allowed to keep it in Portugal for 6 months continuously or cumulatively in any 12 months from the month you first entered Portugal, so December car should have been taken out of country permanently July at the latest, until December 2011 or Jan 2012, trips to Spain don't count.

Reply in peace here but why do trips for reasonable periods not count?

Where does it say thatnin any legal sense?

I have a flat in Spain as well as Portugal and drive over there

Am I therefore in trouble in both Countries?

Although no one has stated thisvspecifically, the suggestion is the car has to be taken out of the Country ( Portugal). After 6 months. Bu going to Spain for 2 weeks I have taken the car out of the Country. How could the authorities know how long I have been away?

Also, I plan to bring the car back in November to the UK  

I have no idea on Spanish requirements, so I have no idea if you have problems with Spanish authorities. The UK Embassy site gives very similar information though
ukinspain.fco.gov.uk/e...spain/cars
Firstly keeping a UK car here, if your car requires a UK MOT then you must return it to the UK at least once a year, it is not possible to MOT it legally outside the UK.
If you refer to the UK Embassy web site it states terms and conditions for the temporary import of a vehicle.

ukinportugal.fco.gov.u...tugal/cars
If you keep a UK Registered car abroad for 12+ months it is considered permantly exported
www.direct.gov.uk/en/M...DG_4022582

I'll need to look up the references for why border hopping for limited period doesn't apply, simply as you can only keep the car in Portugal for 183 days you must also remove it for 183 days.
There are lots of ways authorities would know, but the onus would be on you to prove the car hadn't been here.  

Re MOT,

I am given to understand that strangely the only EU country in which it is illegal to drive a car without a MOT issued by that country is the UK.....

Heigh-ho!

regards

Robin
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