When you plan your vacation to the Virgin Islands, you will inevitably come to the question, How will I get around? Because of the mountainous terrain, we highly recommend that visitors rent a vehicle. There are about a dozen car rental agencies on St. John, all of which have received stellar ratings. So how do you go about choosing who to rent with? Well, it mostly comes down to your own personal preference.
All photos from Courtesy Car Rental
The most common rental cars you will see are the 2-door and 4-door Jeep Wranglers. These cars are great for St. John’s hills, as they have considerable ground clearance, which is important to keep in mind if your villa is located on an unpaved road. However, not everyone is comfortable in a bulky jeep, so you may need to search for a company that offers a more compact car or one that has 4-wheel-drive (some jeeps have 4WD while others only have AWD). Rental companies will all charge around the same amount. You can expect to pay $90 to $100 per day, or $500 to $600 per week depending on your vehicle choice and whether you are visiting during the high or low season. Rental agencies will all have their own specific rules, but here are a few that seem to be consistent across the board. All drivers must have a valid driver's license in order to rent a vehicle. International travelers are required to obtain an international driver’s permit, which some rental companies, such as Courtesy Car Rental, can supply upon arrival for a cost of about $30. Smoking inside your vehicle is prohibited. Failure to comply will result in a fee of up to $300. Removal of jeep rooftops is also prohibited. Some companies even forbid renters from strapping paddle boards and kayaks to the roofs in order to avoid exterior damage. Please heed the rules of the Virgin Islands National Park by refraining from driving your car onto the beaches.You will need car insurance no matter who you rent with. Some companies offer car insurance packages for about $15 per day, while others require you to cover your vacation vehicle with your personal auto insurance company. Some companies are very strict about where you take your rental car. For instance, Slim Man’s Jeep Rental prohibits renters from driving to Lameshur on the south end of the island, as the road to Lameshur is riddled with potholes that could cause serious damage to the tires and underbelly of the car. And lastly, vehicles rented on St. John are not allowed to be taken off the island, so if you plan on doing some adventuring on St. Thomas, you will need to hire a taxi or take public transportation.
All photos from Courtesy Car Rental
Two things you should think about when deciding on a rental agency are (1.) the location, and (2.) the perks that come with your rental. Most of the rental agencies are based in downtown Cruz Bay. Slim Man’s Jeep Rental is the closest to the ferry, just about 100 feet from the dock. Most agencies offer a shuttling service to and from the ferry dock (some are free while others charge a fee). If you would like to have your vehicle delivered to your villa, check with your rental agency beforehand, as many do not offer delivery service. (Aqua Blu will deliver vehicles to villas in Cruz Bay for a fee.) When it comes to perks, you should be thinking about parking. Parking in Cruz Bay can be a pain, so some agencies, such as Courtesy Car Rental and Sunshine’s Jeep Rental, offer free parking for their customers. Roadside assistance is another important factor. Some companies offer complimentary roadside service for simple repairs, while others charge a daily fee for roadside assistance or a flat fee for any service charges.
At the end of the day we want our guests at St. John Ultimate Villas to have a worry-free vacation. We suggest that you visit the rental agency websites below and take a look at their FAQs. And if you have any concerns, don’t hesitate to contact us for additional information. (Office phone: 340-776-4703)