Vehicle Import Agent

Relocated 2 vehicles from Northeast to St Croix last year. Process was easy to pay the tariff tax , clear customs, and register the vehicle, ie the wife did all this for both vehicles. Whoever you are shipping with would probably do it also for extra MONEY(we used VI cargo to ship). However, doing it ourselves several hundredth dollars.

Key documents you need, current registration and title to prove ownership. We made copies of all documents and hand carried them with us before our vehicles arrived. All required documents for shipping from the states also had to go with the shipper.

Problems you might encounter---insurance for the vehicles. Check with your insurance company, to see if they insure cars in the USVI. If not, you will have to obtain insurance from another company, ie USAA insurance does also insure here in the USVI. If you are a veteran, or a child of a veteran you are eligible for USAA, go to their web or call, 1-800-531-8722, for more details.

Good Luck.

IF you are a child of a veteran or Active duty, the Veteran or Active duty member must also be a member of USAA and insured by USAA, or the dependent/child can't get the insurance.

Check with Don @ VI Cargo. He did the transport, and customs when we had our vehicle moved here. Easy process through him.

I was at VI Cargo yesterday. The front desk person was giving somebody a phone quote to ship a vehicle. It was in the $1500 range, I think. After she hung up, she sang a little ditty: "You're not going to find it any cheeeeaper!"

I shipped a car through VI Cargo recently and was very happy--before that I had used tropical. I liked VI Cargo because they cleared customs, did the road tax...all I did was get insurance before the car arrived, pick the car up at the dock and drive straight to the BMV for registration. When I shipped with tropical, I had to do the road tax stuff and it seemed liked a much more involved process. VI Cargo was $1599 for shipping and $600-something for road tax.

I used Barry at Flemming. He shipped the vehicle and did all of the transfer and had it waiting for me.
Who ever you use, have them ship (pull) the car down instead of you shipping (push) the car down. That way if it ends up on the wrond island, has happened before, thay are expecting it and will take care of the problem.

Quick question ...

Shipping a car from Miami to STX. Somehow I got it in my head that we could put some personal goods in the trunk. But VI Cargo website says this isn't allowed ...

http://www.vicargo.com/vehicles.htm

Did I make this up that this was allowed? Or will other agents allow this?

If all agents follow the rules set by Home Land Security, following the 9/11 NYC terror attack, no items of any kind can be left in the car. Drivers manual, tire tool, jack, and spare tire are only things allowedt - PERIOD.

Ok ... one final question ... VI Cargo is roughly $300 more than Tropical. Of course, VI Cargo clears Road Tax, Tropical does not. In your opinion, is this service worth the $300 premium? I am leaning towards yes. Thanks for all the help.

Disregard. I think this settles it! Not great advertisement for Tropical.

http://www.bvinewbie.com/news/15/Ship+Grounded+in+Marine+Park.html

What if you are not in possesion of the title? I am still paying on my car, it's obviously registered but the bank has the title. Is that a problem if I were to ship my car down there?

You will have to get permission from the lein-holder before anyone will ship it.

Disregard. I think this settles it! Not great advertisement for Tropical.

http://www.bvinewbie.com/news/15/Ship+Grounded+in+Marine+Park.html

amusing comment, considering that Tropical owns Vicargo...

Tropical will not insure your shipment. Definitely cars over 5 years old.