I am officially on island(s)!!! now for a question or two...

Do I need a VI license to drive a car while on Island?

djacobh,

I'm not going to be there till December, but I have researched this topic extensively. Your U.S. Driver's license from the mainland is only valid for 90 days from the day of your arrival. You need to head over to the DMV and get it switched with a USVI license. I think it requires a small fee and some paperwork, but it's no real hassle.

Also, getting a car under $3,000 that is in good condition and a 4WD would be difficult. I mean, I have been calling numbers from the Island Trader and talking to people from dealerships there and I don't think you can hope for anything decent below $5,000. As I say, I'm not there yet, but I have been doing a lot of calling and researching and this is what I've found out so far.

For more information on the Driver's License you can check this out -> https://www.vimovingcenter.com/car/

I hope this helps.

Raj H.

Your US driver's license will always be "valid". If you are a resident you are technically "required" to switch over to a USVI license within 90 days. However, it took me (as well as many other people I know) years to switch over, and during that time I bought, registered and insured several cars. No problems using a stateside license. Not having a VI license is only a problem if the police pull you over and make a fuss about it, or if you need a VI license for your job.

I changed my license over about 6 months after...but make sure your stateside one doesn't expire or you'll be taking a driving test. Get a driving record from your state of issue along with a passport and social security card and you can get a VI license.

Power outages are relatively frequent and oftentimes happen for no reason. Just part of the deal. Hurricane season is almost over which means less storms and [theoretically] less power outages, but on STT we've had erratic power in areas for no apparent reason.

With respect to cars, get the word out in town that you are looking, but a reliable and functional 4WD is going to be $4,500 at a minimum most likely. You might get lucky and find someone in a hurry to get off island or something, but plan on spending more than $3K for a reliable 4WD. Remember that if you pay $2,500 and then the car doesn't run for more than a week without problems, you'll end up spending the difference in repairs, not to mention how much time it will take to get parts here. Don't skimp on a car, it can be a nightmare when you get a bad one!

djacobh,

VentoGT helped me a lot with a lot of my questions and considering he's an islander, I would ignore my advice. I read about the driver's license thing at the link I gave you in the earlier post and though it must be the official system, as you can see, VentoGT didn't do anything for six months and it was fine. This discussion thread has actually helped me learn more about how the island works!!!

Also, VentoGT gave me advice about the vehicles too and it was how I learned that I did not want the 4WD truck I saw in Island Trader that was listed at $2,000 (According to the ad, it was apparently in mint condition).

Hope you find what you are looking for and it all goes smoothly.

Raj H.

P.S. I thought I would escape power outages once I moved from India, but alas, that does not seem to be the case!!!

Raj: You are correct. You are supposed to get a local license after 90 days. However, there are many people here who skirt the laws because enforcement is so inconsistent.

Vento: The reason for the power outages is the generating system is old and held together with baling wire and bubblegum.

baling wire and bubblegum.

Don't forget the hamsters!

Raj: You are correct. You are supposed to get a local license after 90 days. However, there are many people here who skirt the laws because enforcement is so inconsistent.

Vento: The reason for the power outages is the generating system is old and held together with baling wire and bubblegum.

People who move here, don't want to give up their stateside driver's license. Are you moving here or not? Are you losing part of your identity? Some even want to try to keep their stateside dl & have a USVI dl.
Just do it. I must admit I didn't do it within the 90 days, but is was shortly after.

"Baling wire & bubblegum." That's a good one. Made me laugh.

Vento: The reason for the power outages is the generating system is old and held together with baling wire and bubblegum.

LFOL!!! I don't know why but when I read this I started cracking up... I guess pictured these big turbines with Bubble Yum and Coat Hangers holding them together!!! 😛

People who move here, don't want to give up their stateside driver's license. Are you moving here or not? Are you losing part of your identity? Some even want to try to keep their stateside dl & have a USVI dl.
Just do it. I must admit I didn't do it within the 90 days, but is was shortly after.

"Baling wire & bubblegum." That's a good one. Made me laugh.

Yeah, I say just do it. That's what I'm going to do. I am pretty confident I will adjust fine to the island. I've lived in some pretty crazy places and India is no cake walk, so whatever problems the Island has, I'm sure it won't run me off to the States where I have "my identity." And besides, getting a license back in the States isn't like trying to do brain surgery. It's a pretty simple process... unless things have changed in the last three years since I was living there. If you decide to go back to the mainland, just be at the DMV bright and early and you'll have your new license in no time.

I didn't do it for so long simply because I kept forgetting--each year before I went to register the car I would say, this year I'll do it. But then forget the paperwork or some form of ID. I could have made time, but because the laws are so lax, it just wasn't a priority.

I haven't done it yet because I'm just being lazy. I keep finding other, more fun things to do with my time off. *-) I will eventually make it a point to get it.