Cost of shipping a car

There's some info on this thread but search the board. Lots of info on shipping. If you have a lien on it, make sure the lienholder will allow it to leave the mainland.

https://www.vimovingcenter.com/talk/read.php?4,78128,78128#msg-78128

If you call tropical shipping they will tell you exactly how much. My guess is about 2000. But you will also need to pay additional taxes. Like the road tax, an import duty and an added duty if the car is made in a non US location. You can call the VI governement for the amounts you will need to pay.

My guess is that if you are going to spend about 3000, that is without knowing the details.

Billd

just paid ~$2900, and that was for registration and ready to hit the road, plus had to pay duty as my car was mfg in japan. car value about $9000. I live on stt, shipped from jacksonville since it was a shorter dropoff to pickup trip, from a schedule standpoint. Used Managed Freight (lee fleming), whom I highly recommend.

.I just paid $1,345 to Crowley for shipping to STT, that is their minimum based on car size and weight. Haven't picked it up yet but my estimate is that I will owe about another $1,300 to put it on the road when I get there next week. The Settler's Handbook details all fees. If your VIN starts with a 1 or 4 the vehicle was made in US and you don't have to pay the import duty otherwise expect a large charge for that. You can call Crowley in Jacksonville, FL and they will give you the fee for your vehicle over the phone. gl

All foreign items except for Denmark pay 6% duty. If your car was manufactured outside of USA and imported there, then it paid about 2.5% duty. When shipped to the VI you will then pay ther differential to the 6% duty or 3.5%. Plus excise tax on the book value, plus road user tax plus registration. Sell it and buy a car from a car rental company or someone leaving.

All foreign items except for Denmark pay 6% duty. If your car was manufactured outside of USA and imported there, then it paid about 2.5% duty. When shipped to the VI you will then pay ther differential to the 6% duty or 3.5%. Plus excise tax on the book value, plus road user tax plus registration. Sell it and buy a car from a car rental company or someone leaving.

From a financial point, cayennita is absolutely right!
You have to spend around $3000 before you spend .001 towards your car!
Butt be careful!
Locals here treat their cars like WAPA treats their customers(hence the "Butt be careful" pun).
For newbies,translated that means the cars here are thoroughly used & abused(every which way & sideways)!
No one can screw you over better than a native Virgin Islander (or WAPA)!
Cars here, frequently don`t have car fax report updates, (though I`m SURE would make INTERESTING reading!).
So, check out that used car well!
I was in the market for a 2-3 year old car for my wife, the cars I checked, had more hits (accidents) in their short lives than Micky Mantle did in his entire career!
What can they possibly do to a car in a couple years?
The car I found, that I thought had the least connection from St Thomians, never ceases to amaze me!
Some retarded local mechanic lost the belt tensioner bolt, so when I went to tighten sqeeking the belt, I needed to remove the alternator to gain access to where the bolt to tension the belt should have been.
I purchased the missing bolt, & now it`s a 5 minute job(like it`s supposed to be) to adjust the belt!
A missing audio amplifier which was once mounted in the trunk, had a #4 live wire I needed to disconnect from the battery!
Had I left it there, it was 1/2" from hitting metal & may have burnt the car to the ground if I hit a big enough pot hole(easy to find those here, pot holes & cars burnt to the ground!).
I wonder what future surprises the local mechanic retards left for me to enjoy!
Many mechanics here could`t fix a wheel barrow, but they sure do know how to charge!

No one can screw you over better than a native Virgin Islander

I think that's really offensive & sorry, but the worst screwings over I've ever gotten here were from Statesiders.

I have found most VI mechanics to be fair and creative in their work - but I have an entirely opposite attitude about people here than the one DUN expressed.

I agree that you will spend somewhere around 3000 to bring a car down. If you spend that 300o and another 3000 you can get a pretty good car. There are some good mechanics on island. I use Lenoard but there are several others. Also, for about 50-70 bucks they will look at the car you are going to buy and tell you what gives. As far as the islanders being the best people to screw you I don't think that is fair trait. The cars here can be pretty well beat so you need to be aware. But s blanket statement is not correct.

So beware what you are going to buy. The final decision is up to you.

billd

Sorry if anyone was offended.I was relaying experiences I, & many others here have had.
Exit, if you 'found most VI mechanics to be fair and creative in their work", how many mechanics is that?

I really didn`t like the way they creative jerried my belt tensioner! The workmanship I`ve seen here is the most horrible I`ve encountered(not limited to mechanical observations)...
I have heard good things about a Frenche mechanic, though, it`s been my experience(and many others I know) mostly substandard repairs are done here.
For those who had better experiences, consider yourselves lucky(perhaps you use the same mechanic(s)).

I purchased a nissan frontier (made in TN, USA - vin starts with 1) and had it shipped from Miami to STX about 8 weeks ago. Total cost for shipping, taxes, reg etc, was approximately 2100. Don at VI Cargo was amazingly helpful. I can't recommend them highly enough. We shipped a ton of gear with them at the same time and were really pleased with thier resasonable charges and great service. Go to www.vicargo.com for info.

Scott
Island Hops
Green Cay Marina, STX.

DUN -- 33 years of mechanics worth --' how many' -- working on our cars -- anywhere from 2-4 cars in the family at any one time especially once the children were old enough to drive. I wouldn't keep a Lamborghini here or any other exotic model but so far have done well with driving Hondas,Toyotas, Bmw's,Jeep, and plenty of VW's[ in the early years.]
Far better and more personal service and lower prices here - than the cars I keep in the states - except for the stateside BMW total service package-- that rocks!

OK, Exit, good enough!
I`m a marine mechanic/electrician, I refuse to work on cars here as it doesn`t pay enough & you have to be nice/personable to the customers!....

OK, just kidding!!!!
There is more $ in boats as there is more liability & many different systems.A error in repair can cost a group of people loosing their lives!
On the sea you can`t always call a tow truck or just take a cab in the middle of the ocean!
Though, the worse mechanic I ever met was a boat owner who retired working on...passenger planes!!!
Unbelievable, he retired with a great pension (I`m just glad he is not working on planes anymore as I travel frequently)!
I have had many locals work for me, i just couldn't allow them to continue, less put my name to their repairs!
I got tired of apologizing for their f-ups!
My #1 rule was "if you don`t know how to remove/disassemble, don`t FORCE/BREAK anything!
Call, me & I`d be more than happy to help/show you how.
If you want to upset me & our customer, force it & break it, you`ll be payed at the end of the day & never work for me again, so DON`T hesitate to ask for help when in question!"

Mechanics who are appreciated will want to please you, so I`m sure you have been good to them.
Me, I give excellent service nice or bad folks, it`s my job.

I just shipped an 07 GMC Sierra, the cost was $2400 from Ft. Lauderdale, then another $2400 in taxes, registration, etc. A full size truck weighs about 5000 lbs, and check your VIN, if it begins with a 1 or a 4, it is US made, mine unfortunately was a 2, made in Canada ( go figure!) and I had to pay the 6% tax for non-US. Check around with various shippers, I didn't and I think got a "ride" as a friend just sent a pathfinder from the same location and paid 1200. they charge by the weight and how soon you want it.