Renting a car for several months on STT

Unlikely you'll find anyone with a private vehicle willing to rent it out - too much liability. Try Bowsky in Smith Bay. A lot of locals rent from them them when their vehicles are in the shop. Their number is 340-779-2600.

Most car rental companies will rent a car for a couple months at reduced rates.
Ask about monthly rental rates. Try Budget or Dependable Car.

There's a guy that does exactly this out of Crown Bay Marina. Hand him cash, he hands you keys - and it's cheap. You're not going to get a late model SUV but for 4-500/mo for a car is impossible to beat. I'm driving one of his Camrys right now while my Jeep transmission is getting rebuilt (again) and coincidentally I'm turning it back in to him around the date you're getting here. I'll ask him if he minds me giving out his number, I think he operates more or less totally by word of mouth.

I'm pretty sure I know a couple of girls who rented a car for the six months that they've been here. They are leaving island in the next couple of weeks. I'll ask them about it. I know the car they have is definitely an island car.

There is a guy Slim in Frenchtown who I paid 500/month cash. His number is 340-771-2498

We do a mini lease from Hertz (monthly rate) for 3-4 months while on-island..

If you're a AAA member you get a 10% discount. (might be advantageous to join at the lowest rate to get these savings)

Cost (with the taxes & fees) is probably around $800/month, but you get a new, reliable vehicle.

Check to make sure your stateside auto insurance covers you for damage...or your credit card might too. AMEX provides 100% damage coverage for $24.95/month, if you use their card and have registered for the coverage.

One caution, you can't take a Hertz car to St. John.

Hope this helps.

F.I.

We do the same thing with Avis when we have visiting staff on STX. A monthly rental is $800 including the fees. I believe they do the same thing on STT.

Unlikely you'll find anyone with a private vehicle willing to rent it out - too much liability. Try Bowsky in Smith Bay. A lot of locals rent from them them when their vehicles are in the shop. Their number is 340-779-2600.

thank you, i'll give them a call

There's a guy that does exactly this out of Crown Bay Marina. Hand him cash, he hands you keys - and it's cheap. You're not going to get a late model SUV but for 4-500/mo for a car is impossible to beat. I'm driving one of his Camrys right now while my Jeep transmission is getting rebuilt (again) and coincidentally I'm turning it back in to him around the date you're getting here. I'll ask him if he minds me giving out his number, I think he operates more or less totally by word of mouth.

thanks, do people like this mind renting to non-locals?

I'm pretty sure I know a couple of girls who rented a car for the six months that they've been here. They are leaving island in the next couple of weeks. I'll ask them about it. I know the car they have is definitely an island car.

thanks, i've heard of people doing this, just didnt know how they went about doing it!

There is a guy Slim in Frenchtown who I paid 500/month cash. His number is 340-771-2498

thank you!, ill try giving him a call

Sent you a PM.

It goes without saying that if you even think about renting from someone "off the street" and unlicensed, you exercise extreme caution.

It goes without saying that if you even think about renting from someone "off the street" and unlicensed, you exercise extreme caution.

I've known the guy I use in CBM since shortly after I moved here and have rented cars monthly for well over a year from him, came highly recommended by other people I'd met. He is also an expediter, handles the DMV for you. He's one of the few people I know on this island that answers his phone every time and when he says "let me find out what I have and call you back" he actually calls back. In an hour or so.

Now on the flip side, before I knew this guy I had to rent a car for two weeks so I went to Budget. It was very expensive, they double charged my credit card which held the money for a week (great to have happen when you just moved), and when I wanted to return it several days early they would not return me a prorated amount. Of course when I asked they were total pricks about it.

I'll take my chances with my "off the street" guy.

No need at all to explain or be defensive. Your "guy" is no doubt perfectly legitimate and all the insurances and liability issues are properly taken care of. Others may not be and thus the cautionary reminder ... 😀

I have used the guy at CBM as have my neighbors and a few friends over the years.
Can't remember about insurance, etc. as it was awhile back.

Harold Johnson of Chariot Car Rentals is legitimate, He does not have an office and parks his cars at Crown Bay where he does some work. He has insurance and is usually out of cars! I have used him and recommend him often.

Harold Johnson of Chariot Car Rentals is legitimate, He does not have an office and parks his cars at Crown Bay where he does some work. He has insurance and is usually out of cars! I have used him and recommend him often.

Thanks for this, I didn't even know what his business name was. I've had him in my phone as "Harold Cheap Rental" for years but don't give it out because I only have his cell phone. He does have a phone number in the phonebook under Chariot's Car Rentals. Just got news today that my Jeep will take $2000 to get back on the road again so I'll probably be swallowing up one of his cars for a few months.

Interesting discusion. My Auto insurance covers me when I drive another car. Covered when I borrow a friends car and covered when I rent a car. My unbrella policy provides an extra layer of insurance. I have rented cars for cash in pleanty of locations. Never an issue. I've also done house swaps where I've "rented" the car as well as the house. I'm really unsure what type of potential liability exists, if any. I would think the "renter" has more to loose then the "rentee".

Thanks everyone for all the info! I called Harold Johnson (the guy from crown bay marina). Left him a voicemail, havent heard back from him yet, so we'll see what happens. Bowsky doesn't do 3 month leases on vehicles and charges the full price for week. As of now, i guess it will either be Dependable or Budget for me! Also found out my insurance company won't cover me in a rental while i'm down there so I'll be using a local company for whatever car I get. I appreciate all the help and info, getting excited about my move next week!

One of your credit cards should cover you for insurance. Call and ask if they do,