Car Move

Bass,
Please go to the home page (very top left corner of the message board). On the home page you will find a list of topics in blue. One of the topics is about shipping a car specifically. This gives all the amounts and procedures to possess a car on the islands. In regard to shipping from Florida, I believe most estimates I've read here range between $800.00 to 1200.00 dollars for shipping to the island.

While your on the home page go through all the topics outlined. The website is easily navigable and full of very useful information that will answer many of the questions you have!

Hi Bass,
ManagedFreight would like to assit with your car move into STT. Tell us the size of your vehicle and the wthether it coming out of North or South Florida, and we'll get you a rate.

Lee
ManagedFreight

Tropical ships to the VI from West Palm Beach and (I think) Jacksonville. Cost is $770 if you clear customs yourself ($820 if you have them do it--clearing customs requires that you walk two blocks and hand over paperwork, save the $50 bucks and do it yourself). I've shipped my car both ways with Tropical (West Palm to STX and STX to West Palm) and will ship again with Tropical to STX in July. Never had any problems. You're also allowed 30 cubic feet of cargo inside the car at no extra charge. I shipped a relatively small mini-vanish car both times. Rates are determined by size not weight and, thus, are slightly higher for larger vehicles like SUVs and cargo vans.

You can reach them by phone at (800) 367-6200.

You should also know that STX (and, I assume, STT as well) has a road tax based on the weight of your vehicle. You have to pay the road tax before you can pick up your vehicle. That set me back about $450 bucks in addition to the shipping charges. You will also pay duty on any non-US made vehicles.

Hi,
we are moving to St. Croix in July and thinking about shipping our Blaze. How mcuh would it cost from Fla.? Cleveland?
It is four years, would there be tax on it in St. Croix?

Don Buchanan

Don, if you're moving from Cleveland, you might want to look into shipping from Baltimore or a port a little closer to home than Florida. I was quoted $1700 for shipping my Saturn from Baltimore to STX. The difference in price was worth the time and stress of having to get everything in order here before driving to Miami to pout the car on a boat and catch a flight from there.

HipCrip

I recently got a price on shipping a Cherokee northern Illinois to Florida.

The bids I got were between $700 & 750.

Just Google auto transport and you will fine many truckers and brokers that will bid the job.

Decide if you want to ship with Crowley from Jacksonville or Tropical from Ft Lauderdale makes a difference on cost. Also how quickly you want to get the car from Cleveland to Florida.

My Budget for an auto move:

Truck to Florida $725
Boat St Croix 800
Expediter 225 (Customs/Regis/Plates/Inspection)

Use Tax 160 (4% of vehicle's value less $1,000)
Road Tax 720 ($0.16 per pound )
Duty 0 (American made vehicle)
Plates & Regis 100

TOTAL $2,730

Be sure your car is worth it before incurring the expense. Also allow for a contingency for extra expenses. As you can see it isn't simple.

Hope this helps.

Jim

Hi Jim,

Wow - good work! (I'm also shipping a Cherokee, nice to see that it's "duty free")

I've got a couple questions though:

1. How did you figure out how much your truck weighs?

2. What kind of Cherokee do you have?

3. You included Plates/Regis twice in your budget, once in the Expediter and once separately.. how come?

Thanks so much,
Kat

I haven't finalized all the costs yet, because at $2,700 I have to to decide if it is worth it to ship the Jeep. I only live on St Croix for part of the year currently.

I have a Jeep Cherokee Laredo. I have seen a weight of 4,500 - 4,600 lbs bandied about. I haven't had my vehicles weighed nor do I know how the VI authorities would determine its weight.

In my estimate I figured the fee the expediter/freight agent quoted was for their services only and that the cost for the government's fees would be additional. If I over estimated the cost it is only by $100. I would suggest you contact Flemings Transport Co and review all the details with them the services they can provide, what is included and an exact cost. They are listed in the phone book and provide service on both STX and STT. You can try e-mailing them at ftc@viaccess.net

Given the complexitiy of moving a vehicle I would build a 10% contingency into my estimate.

Jim

A Lot of vehicles have the weight listed on a sticker on the inside drivers side door. The VIN# and other info are also listed there.