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Hello,
I am very excited about my move to St Croix (Christiansted area) next month. I will be working and living there on a 6 month contract with hopes to renew every 6 months or so. I have found an amazing condo for rent on the water and now have question about transportation. The well known name brand car rental companies want to charge about $900/month for rental. Does anyone know where I could rent a vehicle (does not matter what condition, smaller the better) at a better rate for 6 months to start? Thank you so any information!
Rob
Posted : April 9, 2012 7:24 pm
Lower cost monthly car rental has long been a problem not only here but every resort community. My first stay here was for 2 months. My rent for two months was a total of $2400 my car rental for two months was $1900. Most car rental companies charge between $900 and $1000 a month for a small car rental. If you are here for six months, that is $6000 that you would rather spend some other way. However, the truth is that 6k is what it costs to run a car for six months. Remember that $900 includes the purchase price, maintenance, insurance, depreciation and interest.
You could rent a wreck from some local (private party rental), but the lack of insurance and potential liability would deter me. The cheapest legal way is to come and buy an island car, insure it and sell it when you leave. It is a hassle. I have friends who have done it for as little as few hundred dollars a month. Example...bought car for $3000 sold car six months later for $3000 minus insurance and registration.
Posted : April 9, 2012 9:24 pm
buy a junker that's inspected. insure it for $250 a year and give it away later dude.
Posted : April 9, 2012 11:03 pm
You could lease a vehicle. A friend of mine on STX is currently leasing a 2012 Ford Focus for 6 months from Centerline Car Rentals for $800/month. With a lease of more than 90 days (he thinks that’s the cutoff), you avoid the car rental tax. Also, he says most stateside car insurance companies will provide coverage in the 50 states and territories. If you lease a car for 6 months or more they will consider it an "owned " vehicle and extend the insurance coverage from your stateside vehicle to the leased vehicle. He suspended the insurance on his stateside vehicle while here, so he has the same coverage as stateside, at no additional cost.
So leasing is an option. However, I would be more inclined to buy a used car and sell it when I leave, especially if you might keep renewing and stay beyond 6 months.
Posted : April 9, 2012 11:52 pm
There also should be an abundance of used cars to buy in the upcoming months since so many people are leaving island. For 6 months, I would definitely buy and then sell if you end up leaving.
Posted : April 9, 2012 11:56 pm
Call Jim at Antilles Leasing at 340-719-0414. He can likely hook you up with a late model vehicle on a short term monthly basis.
Posted : April 10, 2012 12:08 pm
