Finding the best-priced rental cars in the Virgin Islands is not always an easy task. There are many local companies that offer rentals, and it can be hard to compare them all when they each have different prices. This is why we’ve done some research for you and listed some of our favorite car rental businesses in the Virgin Islands. All offer good rates on vehicles with excellent service, but there are a few differences between them that might make one better than another depending on your needs.
Do You Need a Vehicle on St. John USVI?
A tropical island vacation is usually spent longing in your villa and lazing by the beach with a rum cocktail in hand. However, if you want to explore the Virgin Islands and enjoy all they have to offer, there are reasons why having your own vehicle is recommended when you are visiting St. John or its sister islands St. Thomas and St. Croix.
Here are a 3 good reasons to rent a vehicle:
- Cost savings: The first reason for renting a vehicle in St John USVI would be that taxis can get expensive when they have several stops on their way from one point of interest to another.
- Drop off & pick up services: Rental car companies in St John USVI usually offer free drop-off services, especially when renting a vehicle for multiple days. For instance, if you rent a jeep from one of the rental companies on St. John and take it to your villa in Cruz Bay, another branch will pick it up.
- The added convenience: There’s no need to wait around for a taxi. You can hop in and go with a vehicle rental because it’s right outside your lodgings or in the parking lot of the point of interest you’re visiting.
Do You Need to Rent a Jeep in St. John?
Yes, especially if it is your first time driving in St. John. With the raw, natural beauty of the island come raw, natural roadways. Many of the roads in St. John are paved, but no matter how well paved they are, the mountainous terrain and steepness of the hills can be challenging for cars, especially when it rains.
Also, you would not be able to navigate some of the rougher roads that go to places such as Privateer Bay and Little Lameshur without a jeep. For example, the road to Lameshur has potholes that could cause damage to the tires and undercarriage of a car.
Moreover, a jeep is by far the most fulfilling way to get around St. John and admire its natural beauty at any time of year. This type of vehicle lets you enjoy panoramic views of the surroundings and offers the most fun way to get around St. John’s roadways. The most common rental jeeps the top car rental places carry are 2-door and 4-door Jeep Wranglers, and they are perfect for traveling the hills of St. John.
Best Car Rental Companies in St. John
If you are planning on visiting the 20 square miles of beautiful St. John, renting a jeep or SUV with 4-wheel drive is a great way to tour all that the beautiful getaway has to offer. The following guide lists three of St. John’s most popular and best-reviewed car rental agencies, and they are all located in Cruz Bay.
St. John Car Rental
Address: 3GA Cruz Quarter Box 566, Cruz Bay, St. John, VI 00831, U.S.V.I Phone: +1 340-776-6103
Across the street from the ferry dock in downtown Cruz Bay by Trunk Bay Beach sits St. John Car Rental. Reviewers on travel sites like Yelp rate their service as prompt, friendly and “amazingly fast.” Those reasons and more are probably the reasons behind why it was voted the “Best Car Rental on St. John” by The Virgin Islands Daily News.
St. John Car Rental serves the majority of visitors to St. John, and it is open seven days a week. They offer rentals on Jeep Wranglers, Jeep Cherokees and Ford Explorers. You can book them online or over the phone, and weekly prices range from $600 for a Jeep Wrangler to $540 for a mid-size SUV.
Conrad Sutton Car Rental
Address: St John, King St, Cruz Bay, St John 00830, U.S.V.I Phone: +1 340-776-6479
Conrad Sutton has been in business for 40 years, and their fleet of Jeep Wranglers, Cherokees and Liberties are high quality and well maintained. Their prices are low too, and a two-door, hard-top Jeep Wrangler costs $80 per day or $480 per week during the off-season.
Conrad Sutton is also about making things easy for their customers. For instance, booking your rental on their website is effortless — and for easy pickup and return of your rental, they are located a block from the ferry dock at Cruz Bay. In addition, the company offers services such as free in-town customer parking, free additional drivers and free mileage. They even give their customers free maps of St. John.
Courtesy Car and Jeep Rental
Address: 300 D Enighed, St John 00831, U.S. Virgin Islands Phone: +1 340-776-6650
When you take a vacation in St. John, you want everything from the island’s turquoise waters to the dining experience to be an excellent experience. Courteous customer service is also important to many, and numerous customers that used Courtesy Car and Jeep Rental took to places like Trip Advisor and Google Reviews to write that they excel in this area.
As an example, customer Amanda Redlinger left this review last month:
“Courtesy definitely lived up to their name: amazing, courteous service every step of the way. Very affordable as well. I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for a jeep rental on St John!”
The company is family-owned, and prices begin at $80 per day for a 2-door Jeep Wrangler, which seats 4. If you need more than 4 seats, they carry larger vehicles such as the Jeep Cherokee that seats 5 and Dodge Durangos and Ford Explorers, which seat 7.
Courtesy is located four blocks east of the ferry terminal at Cruz Bay. They don’t charge extra for additional drivers and will send renters a courtesy shuttle to pick them up and drop them off.
Note: if you intend to island-hop to St. John to St. Thomas and back with your rental car by ferry, Courtesy may not be the right choice for you. Their rentals are not to be taken off St. John.
Aqua Blu Car Rental + Transportation Services
Address: 131 Contant Enighed, John VI 00831, 0776, U.S.V.I Phone: +1 340-776-2782
Aqua Blu is another gem among car rental companies. Their motto is “full clarity, no hidden charges, 2 drivers per vehicle at no charge and no limits on your mileage” when you book with them. Upon your arrival to St. John, their representatives will meet you at the St. John ferry with a complimentary ride, so that you can get started on your vacation straight away.
The company offers Jeep Wranglers and Ford Explorers, and prices vary between peak to off-season. For instance, you can book a 4-door, hardtop Jeep Wrangler for $600/week ($100/day) during peak season. However, when it’s off-season, the same vehicle is $540/week ($90/day).
4 Essential Driving Tips for St. John Drivers
Here are some helpful tips to ensure that you have a great time on the beautiful island, as well as keep yourself safe from harm:
- Unpaved Island Driving – The roads range from unpaved trails to traditional blacktops in St. John. And if you are used to straight, well-maintained roads with good lighting, it will likely take you some time to get used to driving there.
- Anticipate Your Driving Routes – Be aware that many side streets don’t have street signs – If you are new to driving in the Virgin Islands, it is very likely that many of the roads won’t be labeled. So if you get lost, just ask someone for directions.
- Stay Calm and Keep Driving – Be aware that wildlife has been known to migrate onto the roads, so watch your speeds. Keep your wits about you while driving on St. John, as there are twisty sections of roads and steep hills.
- Keep Left When Driving on St. John – Despite being an United States territory, when in the US Virgin Islands, which includes St. John, you drive on the left side of the road. Yes, for Americans this can be confusing to some people. Fortunately, it’s easy enough to adjust — just remember the old saying, “People in the USVI drive shoulder to the shoulder.”
How Much Does it Cost to Ferry a Car from St. John to St. Thomas?
If you want to island-hop and take your vehicle from St. John to St. Thomas, that’s an option. You can book the trip online through ferry companies such as Love City Car Ferries and Big Red Barge Co. A one-way ticket from St. John to St. Thomas costs around $35, and a round-trip ticket is $50. That price includes whatever you can fit in the vehicle, including people, bags and additional items.
Also, bear in mind that car ferries can experience delays. Because of that, it is good to arrive at least 45 minutes to 1 hour before the ferry departs to ensure you are inside the gate. Fortunately, ferry companies will usually honor a missed reservation with their next scheduled departure.
Visit Vacation VI at St John for an Unforgettable Vacation
We hope you found our car rental guide helpful and encourage you to use it while visiting lovely St. John. Located in Cruz Bay, our gorgeous villas at Vacation VI are the perfect place to stay if you’re looking for a combination of luxury and adventure. And not only do we provide first-class amenities, but we also offer a sense of community that you won’t find anywhere else! After enjoying our gorgeous beaches, our guests enjoy spending time in the common area lounge and dining room to watch movies or play games with their family and friends.
We invite you to explore all we have to offer by contacting us at +1-800-727-6610 or by filling out an inquiry form today.
Sources:
The Hills in St John Website – https://thehillsstjohn.com/what-you-need-to-know-about-renting-a-car-on-st-john/
Foders Website – https://www.fodors.com/community/caribbean-islands/do-i-really-need-4wd-on-st-john-592822/
St John USVI Website – https://www.stjohnusvi.com/rentals.html
