Renting a Car in the Virgin Islands: What You Must Know Before You Book 🚗🌴
If there’s one thing I almost always recommend to my clients visiting the U.S. Virgin Islands, it’s this: rent a car.
The Virgin Islands are made for exploring—hidden beaches, scenic overlooks, local food spots, and quiet corners you simply can’t access easily by taxi. Renting a car gives you flexibility, comfort, and (surprisingly) often costs less than relying on taxis all week.
That said… there are a few very important things you need to know before you rent. Here’s the straight talk, based on real experience (and a few hard lessons learned).
🚘 1. Where You Rent Your Car Matters
You have two solid rental options on St. Thomas:
Option 1: Major rental companies at the airport
Located at Cyril E. King Airport
Easy pickup when you land
Most paperwork will say “Do not take to St. John”
Reality: Many travelers (myself included) do take these cars to St. John
Just understand this is technically outside policy
Option 2: Local, privately owned rental companies
They deliver the car to the airport
They pick it up when you depart
More personal service, island-style convenience
If You’re Staying on St. John
You have two choices:
Rent on St. Thomas and take the car ferry over
Take the people ferry over and have your rental waiting for you in St. John
💡 Cost-wise: Neither option is significantly cheaper. It really comes down to what’s most convenient for your travel plans.
🚙 2. What Kind of Car You Should Rent
This one is big—and depends entirely on which island you’re staying on.
St. Thomas
❌ You do not need 4-wheel drive
✅ 2-wheel drive vehicles work just fine
We’ve used:
Compact cars
“Billy goat” island cars
Minivans (even with extended family)
St. John
✅ You absolutely need a 4-wheel drive vehicle
Many neighborhoods and roads are steep, narrow, and rugged
Without 4WD, some areas are simply inaccessible
👉 If your rental is on St. John or you’ll be driving there often—4WD is non-negotiable.
🚫 3. Jeeps Are Fun… But Don’t Modify Them
Yes, Jeeps and Broncos are everywhere. Yes, they look like they’re begging for doors-off, roof-off vibes.
🚨 Don’t do it.
Roof Off?
Strongly discouraged
Many rental contracts explicitly prohibit it
Rental companies will fine you
Locals absolutely will report it
Small island
Everyone knows the rental cars
Yes… they take photos
Doors Off? BIG NO
Illegal on St. John
Removing Jeep doors removes the mirrors
Driving without mirrors = ticket
Especially enforced in Virgin Islands National Park (which covers ~70% of St. John)
⚠️ If ticketed:
You may have to pay the fine in cash
At the police station
Before you’re allowed to continue driving
It’s expensive, inconvenient, and 100% avoidable.
🛡️ 4. Insurance: This Is Where You Protect Yourself
Clients often ask:
“Do I really need to buy the rental car insurance?”
Short answer: Yes. And here’s why.
The Problem Isn’t Coverage
Your personal auto insurance may cover damage
That’s not the issue
The REAL Risk: Island Repair Time
If your rental is damaged:
Repairs happen on island time
Cars can sit in the shop 1–3 months
Rental companies will charge you:
Daily loss-of-use fees
For every single day the car is unavailable
💸 That bill adds up fast.
Reality Check
The islands are scratch-and-go
Local cars are dented, scraped, and well-loved
Your rental will likely already have damage
📹 Pro Tip (Do This Every Time):
Take a timestamped video of:
Exterior
Interior
Before you leave the lot
Document everything—scratches, dents, scuffs
✅ Bottom Line
Rent the car.
Just do it smart.
✔️ Choose the rental option that fits your itinerary
✔️ Pick the right vehicle for the island
✔️ Don’t remove roofs or doors
✔️ Buy the insurance
✔️ Document the condition of the car
This is exactly the kind of island knowledge I help my clients navigate before they ever land—so their vacation is about beaches and sunsets, not fines and surprise bills.
If you want help choosing the right rental setup for your Virgin Islands trip, that’s where I come in. 🌴🚗
This article was written by Megan Dunn- our most seasoned USVI traveler in our agency! If you would like to reach out to her to inquire about your plans to head to the USVIs, click the link below!