looking to lease a car

I think you asked about this back in October?

https://www.vimovingcenter.com/talk/read.php?7,211509

You might want to check out the Christiansted Freecycle group. They can probably help you find someone who might be interested in "renting" their car to you.

Good luck!

Oh good to know!! Thank you!!!

Not being negative, but its unlikely someone would "lease" their car in the way you describe. The liabilities issues are probably at the root of most people's hesitation. Not to mention the cost of drafting an appropriate legal agreement that covers everyone's ass. I used to "lend" one of my cars to an employee but that turned out to be a huge mistake I won't make again.

no way would i ever lease a car to someone i didnt know.

I am not looking to lease a car from anyone who has any hesitation. I know there are kind trustworthy people on this island who would want to help out an equally kind and trustworthy young family! 🙂

Not being negative, but its unlikely someone would "lease" their car in the way you describe. The liabilities issues are probably at the root of most people's hesitation. Not to mention the cost of drafting an appropriate legal agreement that covers everyone's ass. I used to "lend" one of my cars to an employee but that turned out to be a huge mistake I won't make again.

I mentioned this too the last time she asked this question.

It's not even just a matter of insurance - it's headache factor too, if a car is damaged or demolished, it's such a pain to get it repaired or replaced. And heaven forbid someone is terribly injured or even killed - I don't even want to go there with the repercussions of that happening.

I have lived with a mantra in regards to "helping out" friends in the last ten years or so - that mantra is, "there can always be misunderstandings." No matter how many good intentions people have going into a deal, the "kindness" can (and typically does) all fall apart when something happens.

Nikki, I am saying this kindly, I don't think you're going to have much luck with this - good cars are too scarce on the island. You'll probably have to try harder to buy a "beater" - there are folks who advertise them on this board. I would look up and talk to Jamison here on the board, he often knows where to put his hands on one.

why dont you just rent a car from a car rental agency

why dont you just rent a car from a car rental agency

She's looking for "free + insurance."

seems so

Nikki, the issue is liability. If you have an accident, even if it is no fault of yours, the OWNER of the car is the one that will be sued.
No amount of trust is going to overcome that fact. There have been cases here where a person sold a car, and the new buyer had an accident prior to the transfer of title, and the seller got sued. So I would expect that most people would not take the risk unless they had a lot of insurance, which is very expensive here.

The OP doesn't even say which island. There's a flyer for a $1,800 manual transmission vehicle at the Washboard Laundromat on STT.

Car rental agencies will lease cars on a monthly basis so check them out.
If you lease a car from a private individual there are always concerns on both sides.
If the car breaks down 2 hrs. after it's in your possession, who pays? If there is an accident who pays? If there are serious injuries, who pays? Too stressful to deal with, IMO. Go with a rental and save yourself and someone else the headaches.

The OP doesn't even say which island. There's a flyer for a $1,800 manual transmission vehicle at the Washboard Laundromat on STT.

She's on STX, according to her previous thread on this.

I am not looking to lease a car from anyone who has any hesitation. I know there are kind trustworthy people on this island who would want to help out an equally kind and trustworthy young family! 🙂

All you have to do is watch a couple of episodes of Judge Judy to figure out how foolhardy that statement is. No matter what your intentions are, if something goes wrong either with the relationship between the parties, damage to the car, a misunderstanding of the finances, etc. there's a lawsuit in the making.

Either buy, rent or lease a car you can afford from a reputable dealer. Do it the legal way!

Thanks, juliekaye, People should ALWAYS post their location. I don't pay attention to who posted where - I just try to answer questions. Anyone considering moving here or lives here should know there are several US Virgin Islands and should specify which island.

Afriend, i was gonna say that

In 30 years here I've never spent more than $2K for a vehicle but things have changed a lot and if all you have for a vehicle is $2K you're in a sorry position. The last car I bought was five years ago - a '98 Explorer for $1900 which has served me wonderfully well and which I put something like $2500 into for front end repairs close to 3 years ago.

I don't know what your story is, Nikki Lou Lou, but it sounds as though moving here as a family with presumably young children may not have been the best decision you ever made and you were more overcome by the fantasy of living in "paradise" and being able to eke out a living than by the reality which is way different.

As you've probably gathered, nobody in their right mind is going to lease you a car. They'll help clothe you and your children with their outgrown stuff and may even help you out with a few home-cooked meals if push comes to shove and things get worse for you than they are now. I hope things work out for you but always bear in mind that island living isn't for everyone, so often doesn't live up to one's expectations and that seeing people come and go is the norm.

Don't let things get so low that you can't afford to pack up and move back stateside. Good luck!

On St Thomas, there are individuals who rent cars to the travelers, etc. Does someone do that on St Croix? And I have always wondered what the insurance deal is with them...

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On St Thomas, there are individuals who rent cars to the travelers, etc. Does someone do that on St Croix? And I have always wondered what the insurance deal is with them...

Haven't seen it, but who knows. But those are still "rentals" not "free" or "cheap."

We rented an SUV recently from Centerline on STX and it was a great experience. Monthly rentals from them are in the $800/month range.

Car for lease in STT in February

http://virgin.craigslist.org/cto/4260453051.html

With all due respect, you can't tell immediately that this ad is a scam? Suggest you reply to it.

JulieKay: I was thinking more of the conversation about liability and lending a car. I don't think that the individuals who are working this aspect of the rental market are actually in business (business license,etc.) but I have been wrong before, and I could be wrong again.:-)

JulieKay: I was thinking more of the conversation about liability and lending a car. I don't think that the individuals who are working this aspect of the rental market are actually in business (business license,etc.) but I have been wrong before, and I could be wrong again.:-)

No idea. I don't think it happens that often though - as OldTart mentions above, that posting on CraigsList is a scam.

I know most insurance companies would cancel an individual policy post haste if they found out a car was being "rented" - and if a car was damaged or stolen while "rented" most likely the insurance company would contest any claim. It may just be people who are willing to roll the dice - or people who are renting without insurance in place. Which is equally dumb, because a renter wants to be covered in case of an accident or injury or theft of personal property as well!

Edited to add - they may be counting on the renter/driver to have a stateside policy that might cover them renting a car in the USVI. I think that's a long shot though.

I'm an acquaintance of the OP and familiar with her situation. For sure she and her family are nice people but even as such, the liability issues involved as discussed on this thread with "leasing" or "lending" someone a vehicle far out weight my desire to be helpful.

The VI is a very litigious society full of folks struggling to get by who wouldn't hesitate to sue if they thought there was a buck to be made.

I know I would.