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I am planning on moving to St. Thomas the beginning of November, and staying until May or June. I am still deciding if I should bring my own car down, or buy a used one there. Just wondering if anyone knows about the availability of cheap used cars down there, or if I would be better off shipping my own. If anyone has any suggestions I would appreciate them. Thanks.
Posted : October 5, 2004 8:04 pm
You can get beaters for $2k and less if you look around. You can check out alot of the cars for sale online at the Virgin Islands Daily News website. If you have a reliable car that is paid for then I would bring it, because the amount you could sell it for up there won't buy you the same vehicle down here. However, since it is a temporary move that is a lot of hassle. Last time I checked you had to have title in hand so if your car is not paid for then forget about it, although I have been known to be wrong on occasion but I am quite sure that is the case.
Posted : October 5, 2004 11:05 pm
With the cost of shipping both ways, taxes, duties, fees, very high insurance it probably would be cheaper for you to rent a car for 4 - 6 months.
Do the math.
Jim
Posted : October 6, 2004 2:00 am
Hello Patrick,
Do you own your car or still owe on it? I agree with Jim, figure out what your car is worth, and then figure the cost, taxes ect. and see if its worth it $$ wise. You could sell it here rather then shipping it back - if you choose to.
You can find tax info. for shipping a car at
https://vimovingcenter.com/car/
--Islander
Posted : October 6, 2004 6:07 pm
Is a car essential to life on St. Thomas? I have a 2000 Ford Focus (paid for) that i'd considered bringing with me when i move @ the end of october.........but decided against it to make my life a little easier....does anyone have any input on how important having a car is? thank you!
Posted : October 7, 2004 3:21 pm
Hello Mari,
I vote that a car is necessary to making life easier on St. Thomas. Much more convenient... its not impossiable to function without a car though.
Perhaps Island Paul can share some feedback on this... he was without car for quite a few months and then got a car a few months ago. Paul?
If you have no car you have to find an apartment close to a commercial area so you can shop, laundry ect. and close to work, close to school if you have kids, close to the bus route or $1 safaris... and you have to rely on folks to get rides to say the bank, pay bills, ect.
--Islander
Posted : October 7, 2004 6:25 pm
I lived on the east end for five years without a car and it is a bit of a hassle but once you learn the $1 buses it's not too bad. Now, we didn't go out much at night and would bum rides with friends when we were. We also had the dinghy so could get around on the water but other than missing the occasional K-Mart/CostULess run it wasn't terribly inconvenient. We lived and worked in Red Hook however.
Pamela.
Posted : October 7, 2004 6:31 pm