Looking for Car to Rent/Borrow for 2-3 months

lol...does nobody but me watch Judge Judy? Lend you car to anyone and you will be liable for what that person does. I know the VI does not look like it but it is an extremely ligitious society. Start looking into long term rentals, if the friend you're staying with won't lend you a car, its kinda hard to ask strangers to do that.

Good morning Jason,

Let us know if you find a private rental arrangement and how it works out. It's not the best idea, for the reasons Betty mentioned. Also, a perfect stateside driving record, while helpful, won't mean much when you start driving on St. John! As you have already seen, the roads are narrow and steep, with some truly insane blind curves, ridiculously slippery in the rain, covered in potholes and loose gravel... and then there are the speeding trucks crossing into your lane. A significant amount of Third World and off-road driving experience might stand you in better stead. 😎

I'm not trying to discourage you, but for a few months' time, if you don't have $2.5K for an island car plus registration/insurance, you might well be better off hitching rides and using the bus -- I know people who have lived this way for a lot longer than 2-3 months. Call it part of the island experience; you'll get to know people quickly this way, too. Good luck to you!

I am actually currently borrowing the car belonging to the person I am staying with. But since we are both going to be working coordinating picking up and dropping off is becoming difficult which is why I wanted to see if it would be possible to get another one. I called my insurance company and if we sign a contract than I become liable for the car. Thanks!

With whom are you insured? If it isn't an on island provider, odds are you aren't covered in the USVI. Stateside providers don't insure vehicles here. I believe Lloyd's of London underwrites all local auto insurance.

"I called my insurance company and if we sign a contract than I become liable for the car"

I really really don't think that would hold up. The legal system is filled with people who listened to their insurance adjusters instead of their lawyers. I was going to say its like listening to a nurse over your doctor but nurses have a lot more training then an adjuster. It you called your insurance company today and spoke to another person you'd probably get a different answer to that question. Unless you have that in writing on the insurance company's letterhead that they will insure in the usvi and they will cover you if you wreck Mr. Blank's car I would not care what they say.

A few years ago I had a fender bender in my mother-in-laws van - my fault. since I was driving, I wanted my insurance to cover the accident - no dice. The insurance follows the car, not the driver. Not real rentals, of course.

It depends on the state; in some states the insurance follows the car, in other states the insurance follows the driver. PA and CA are representative of the difference.