transporting a car....

Hi slm,

There are a lot of oprevious posts that talk about everything you ever wanted to know about this topic, so the best way to find info is to search the board for "shipping a car." You'll get returns that talk about companies people have used, prices from various places, even what taxes you need to pay when it arrives.

You can also check out the section on the main board called "Shipping Car" located at https://www.vimovingcenter.com/car/ It has even more info and gives some useful tips on getting your car registered and getting a driver's license from the VI.

Hope this is helpful,
HC

Tropical and Crowley are the 2 major people and yes search the posts for more info and reviews on both companies.

Hello slm,

Where is your starting point for shipping? This will affect the cost. Here are the prices shared by another user that shipped his car from Fl. to St. Thomas including shipping, taxes, registration on island....

Tropical Shipping
$800
Export Power of Attorney
(needed for Tropical to handle paperwork)
$50
USVI Vehicle Road Tax $.16 a lb.
(2899lbs x .16)
$463.84
Personal Use Tax: (Value - $1000) x 4% $22065(Blue Book for my car) x 4%
$882.60
Licensing/Registration/Title (DMV)
$150.00
Registration Fee
$240.00
Customs Brokerage
$80.00
Managed Freight Handling Fee
$160.00
Total
$2826.44

--Islander

The Managed Freight handling fee is to have a broker do the initial registration on island. It might be worth it, but don't count on any help with the car until it arrives. Be sure you manage all of the details yourself with the shipping company when it's on the mainland. My car has a lien. The process could have worked smoothly if it weren't for the bad info. It even made it through Frances! I had a bad experience that cost me hundreds of dollars because I thought the broker was knowledgeable about the process for getting the car ready to ship. WRONG!
Good luck! The old posts are a huge help.
Kelly

Have to back up what Kelly said -- this process requires PROACTIVE management. Don't wait for them to call you, or even assume that they will call. Check in at least once a week with your primary contact, and be sure to get full names and phone numbers for everyone you speak with.

We also had a bit of a bad experience that cost us about $300 extra (for storage). You can find my detailed post about this by using the search engine at the top of the main page. If you're moving to STX, that same post also lists the taxes that must be paid, where you pay them, and what forms of payment are accepted., plus info on an additional step in the registration process that wasn't listed in the Settler's Handbook or on this site (as far as I could find, anyway).

HC

(BTW, might this Kelly be our latest new arrival on STX?)

That's me. I've been here a whole month!
Kelly

Can I bring a car over that I still owe on or should I just sell it and try to buy something there? Also, do they finance on St. Croix for a car? Thank you so much -- I plan on moving there (with my 17 year old son) in May of next year.

First your lender will have to agree to their collateral (your car ) being relocated to the VI.

If they do, then with the proper documentation the car can be shipped. It will make the paperwork more complicated.

You can finance cars in the VI, but you don't see as many attractive deals as you do stateside.

Jim

Thank you Jim - I drive a 2001 Jeep Wrangler and I hate to give it up just because I still owe on it. And, from all I have read, my Jeep is ideal for island living.

Hello Kathy,

Read through the 2nd part (Shipping the Car) of the moving story at

https://www.vimovingcenter.com/what_to_expect/movingstory13.php

These folks shipped a car with a loan on it and give details on what they had to do. It might help you out.

--Islander

Thanks again Islander - I can't wait to meet you and everyone else when I get there -- save a rum drink for me lol