VI

Virgin Islands

Trunk Bay, St. John, seen from the North Shore Road overlook — white sand, turquoise water and Trunk Cay
U.S. Virgin Islands · 12 rental companies

Jeep and car rentals on St. John

St. John is steep, two-thirds national park, and its rental fleet is small: in winter every Jeep on the island can be booked. Here are the twelve local companies we could confirm are trading, all in Cruz Bay by the ferry, with their posted rates, the insurance they want from you, and the rules for the car barge.

Photo: Navin75, CC BY-SA 2.0
The first question

Do you need a car on St. John?

Rent, and book early

Open-air safari taxis meet the ferries and charge set per-person fares from Cruz Bay: Trunk Bay $12 for one or $9 each for two or more, Cinnamon Bay $14 or $11, Coral Bay $25 or $15, Salt Pond $30 or $21. They thin out in the afternoon and evening, and there is no bus to the beaches and no ride-hailing.

So for a day on one North Shore beach, a taxi does it. For Coral Bay, the south shore, Annaberg, or two or three beaches in a day, rent. Every company rents four-wheel or all-wheel drive, and in December to April the island sells out: book when you book the villa.

Rent or take taxis? Do the sums

The taxi column is the official fixed fare from Cruz Bay, there and back, for your party; change the rental rate to the quote you have.

Taxis$180
Rental$750

Taxis win by $570 for 2 people over 5 days.

Taxi: the official fare Cruz Bay ↔ Trunk Bay, $18 each way for 2 together, 2 rides a day. St. John fares are per person: one rider pays the top rate, two or more the lower rate each. Night (midnight–6 AM), luggage and waiting surcharges are extra; the fare calculator has every pair.

12 companies · checked Oct 18, 2026

Car rental companies on St. John

All twelve are local, in Cruz Bay within a few minutes' walk of the ferry; several meet you on the dock with a sign. There is no national brand we could confirm on the island and no airport: you fly into St. Thomas. Most sell no damage waiver and want proof that your own policy or card covers a Jeep in the USVI. The minimum age is 25 everywhere (26 at Varlack).

Vehicle
Hand-over

12 companies, each checked as trading in 2025–26.

1St. John Car Rental4L&L6Lionel11Slim Man's12Cruz Bay Car Rental
Virgin Islands National ParkMain roadsBeach sand

5 rental offices on St. John; the numbers match the cards. Companies that deliver from a yard we could not place are listed but not pinned.

1

St. John Car Rental

Local companyCruz Bay, by the Catholic churchMeets the ferry

The island's oldest rental company, since 1974, with the most complete published terms on St. John.

Fleet
Jeep Wrangler 2- and 4-door (incl. convertible), Jeep Cherokee, Mazda CX-5, Ford Explorer, Nissan Pathfinder 7-seat
Price
Not published: ask for a quote
Hand-over
Office, a 90-second walk from the ferry
Age
25+
Hours
8 AM–5 PM daily; pick-up 1–5 PM, return by 11 AM; after hours by appointment
Know
Sells no damage waiver: bring proof of liability and collision cover valid in the USVI; $2,000 deductible. Visa, Mastercard, Discover only. Free parking at its lot after 5 PM.

Trading: terms updated October 2026; live booking engine (source). Checked Oct 18, 2026.

WebsiteFacebook
2

Courtesy Car & Jeep Rental

Local companyCruz Bay, by the roundaboutMeets the ferry

Family-owned since 1992, with a free shuttle from the ferry.

Fleet
Jeep Wrangler 2- and 4-door, Jeep Cherokee, Ford Bronco, Ford Explorer, Dodge Durango
Price
Not published: ask for a quote
Hand-over
Meets the ferry with a sign and drives you back; office
Age
25+
Hours
8 AM–6 PM daily; late arrivals up to the 8 PM ferry
Know
4-day minimum on advance bookings; walk-ins taken. No villa delivery. Proof of USVI cover required. Reviews in 2026 are mixed on tyres and fuel charges.

Trading: Google reviews dated July–August 2026 on its own site (source). Checked Oct 18, 2026.

Website
3

Conrad Sutton Jeep & Car Rental

Local companyKing Street, a block from the ferryDelivers

In business more than 50 years, renting Jeeps from King Street.

Fleet
Jeep Wrangler 2- and 4-door, Jeep Cherokee or Toyota RAV4
Price
Not published: ask for a quote
Hand-over
Office; free delivery for Westin guests
Age
25+
Hours
9 AM–6 PM daily
Know
$1,500 deductible with proof of your insurance; foreign licences buy a $25 permit. 6-day minimum at Christmas; three weeks' notice to cancel. Free parking at its lot for renters, space permitting.

Trading: site rebuilt April 2026 with live booking; Yelp listing updated September 2026 (source). Checked Oct 18, 2026.

Website
4

L&L Jeep Rental

Local companyPrince Street, by the police stationMeets the ferry

Runs its own paid lot on Prince Street with a renter discount; reviews are middling, with complaints about fees.

Fleet
Jeep Wrangler 2- and 4-door, Ford Bronco and Bronco Sport, Toyota RAV4, SUVs
Price
Not published: ask for a quote
Hand-over
Office, 2–3 minutes from the ferry
Age
25+
Hours
9 AM–6 PM daily; after 6 PM $50–100
Know
3-day minimum (one-day rentals by phone the day before). Your own insurance must cover you. Taking the car off St. John: $1,000 a day. Its St. Thomas branch no longer rents.

Trading: Tripadvisor reviews January–July 2026; live booking engine (source). Checked Oct 18, 2026.

Website
5

Sunshine's Jeep Rental

Local companyRoute 10, across from Dolphin MarketMeets the ferryDelivers

Brings the car to you, and publishes dated rates for the 2026–27 season.

Fleet
Jeep Wrangler 2- and 4-door, Toyota RAV4 AWD, Jeep Compass, Toyota Corolla Cross AWD, Ford EcoSport AWD, safari truck
Price
$70–$165 a day4-door Wrangler $145 a day in season (Oct 16, 2026–Apr 30, 2027), $165 over the holidays; $70 fall special on a 2-door, RAV4 or EcoSport · posted rate, read Oct 18, 2026
Hand-over
Meets your ferry at Cruz Bay, the National Park dock or The Creek; free delivery to Cruz Bay hotels and the Westin
Age
25+
Know
3–4-day minimum; one week over Dec 19, 2026–Jan 2, 2027. $1,500 deductible on your own insurance. $50 for arrivals after 8 PM.

Trading: 2026–27 rate seasons on its own site; Tripadvisor reviews through 2026 (source). Checked Oct 18, 2026.

Website
6

Lionel Jeep Rental

Local companyCruz Bay, a block from the ferryMeets the ferryDelivers

A well-reviewed Cruz Bay company (4.8 on Tripadvisor) that shuttles you from the ferry.

Fleet
Jeep Wrangler 2- and 4-door, Ford Bronco 4-door, Ford Escape, Jeep Compass, Dodge Durango, Toyota Highlander, Toyota RAV4
Price
Not published: ask for a quote
Hand-over
Shuttle from the ferry dock and nearby hotels; office
Age
25+
Hours
8:30 AM–5:30 PM; pick-up from 11 AM, return by 10 AM; 5:30–7:30 PM by appointment
Know
Collision and liability cover through your card or insurer required. Renters may park free overnight in Cruz Bay.

Trading: 2025–26 Tripadvisor reviews; listed on visitusvi.com (source). Checked Oct 18, 2026.

Website
7

Aqua Blu Car Rental

Local companyContant, Cruz BayMeets the ferryDelivers

Family-run since 2013, with near-new Jeeps and Broncos (4.9 on Tripadvisor); also runs taxis.

Fleet
Ford Bronco 4-door, Jeep Wrangler 2- and 4-door premium
Price
Not published: ask for a quote
Hand-over
Ferry dock meet; delivery to villas and resorts near Cruz Bay (fee)
Age
25+
Hours
9 AM–5 PM daily; pick-up 1–5 PM; late flights by arrangement
Know
4-day minimum. Proof of full cover required; roadside assistance $20 a day. Canadian licences need no permit.

Trading: 2025 reviews; Yelp listing updated June 2026 (source). Checked Oct 18, 2026.

WebsiteFacebook
8

Varlack Ventures

Local companyCruz Bay, a block from the ferryMeets the ferry

The car arm of the family that runs the Red Hook–Cruz Bay passenger ferry.

Fleet
Jeep Wrangler 4-door, Dodge Durango 7-seat
Price
$105–$150 a day4-door Wrangler $120 a day November–May, $105 June–October; Durango $150 · posted rate, read Oct 18, 2026
Hand-over
Office; ferry dock meet
Age
26+
Know
Sells cover at $10 a day ($1,500 deductible). Also listed on 340-776-6412.

Trading: Tripadvisor reviews February–August 2026 (source). Checked Oct 18, 2026.

Website
9

Dolphin Jeep Rental

Local companyCruz Bay, uphill from the ferryDelivers

A newer company with near-perfect Google reviews through October 2026.

Fleet
Jeep Wrangler, Toyota RAV4, Jeep Grand Cherokee L, Ford Bronco convertible
Price
$120–$175 a dayRAV4 $120, Grand Cherokee L $150, Bronco convertible $175 a day, unlimited miles · posted rate, read Oct 18, 2026
Hand-over
Office; hotel and villa delivery
Know
Rents for a single day; contactless hand-over by text; renters may park in its lot.

Trading: Google reviews for August–October 2026 rentals (source). Checked Oct 18, 2026.

Website
10

Owen's Jeep Rental

Local companyCruz Bay, near the ferryDelivers

A locally owned family business with a newer, smaller fleet of compact SUVs as well as Jeeps.

Fleet
Ford Bronco Sport 4x4, Kia Seltos AWD, Kia Sorento 6-seat, Jeeps
Price
Not published: ask for a quote
Hand-over
Office; resort delivery (e.g. the Westin)
Hours
8:30 AM–5 PM daily
Know
Bookings within two days by phone only.

Trading: Google reviews April–May 2025; booking calendar open to 2027 (source). Checked Oct 18, 2026.

Website
11

Slim Man's Jeep Rental

Local companyAcross from Wharfside Village

Run by the family behind Slim Man's Parking in the historic district (St. Thomas Source, September 2026).

Fleet
Jeep Wrangler 2- and 4-door, Ford Bronco Big Bend, Ford Bronco Sport
Price
$105–$150 a day2-door Wrangler $105 (Aug–Nov) or $120 (Dec–Jul); 4-door $125/$135; Bronco Big Bend $130/$150; plus $5 a day tax; 2022 or newer · posted rate, read Oct 18, 2026
Hand-over
Office
Age
25+
Hours
Office 8 AM–5 PM; pick-up 2–8 PM, return by 11 AM
Know
Proof of insurance with the booking; first extra driver free. Its rules forbid the road to Lameshur. Parking not included.

Trading: St. Thomas Source feature, September 2026; current rates on its own site (source). Checked Oct 18, 2026.

Website
12

Cruz Bay Car Rental

Local companyGallows Point ResortMeets the ferry

Gallows Point Resort's on-site partner; every car AWD or 4WD with a backup camera, and the longest hours in Cruz Bay.

Fleet
Jeep Wrangler 2- and 4-door, Toyota RAV4, Toyota Highlander 7-seat
Price
$130–$170 a dayWranglers and RAV4 $130, Highlander $170 a day, plus $5 a day tax · posted rate, read Oct 18, 2026
Hand-over
Office at Gallows Point, a walk from the ferry
Age
25+
Hours
8 AM–8 PM daily
Know
3-day minimum April–October, 5-day November–March. Proof of liability cover required. Free parking for Gallows Point guests.

Trading: Gallows Point's 2026 guide and car-rental page; reservations page updated August 2026 (source). Checked Oct 18, 2026.

WebsiteFacebook

We list a company only with dated evidence it is renting now: recent reviews, posts or a live booking engine with 2026 dates. Prices are what each company posts, read on the date shown; quotes change with the season and the fleet. Not affiliated; nobody paid to be here.

Before you drive

Driving on St. John: the rules of the road

Side of the road
Drive on the LEFT, in American left-hand-drive Jeeps and SUVs: the driver sits next to the kerb, and the drop.
Roads
Steep, narrow and full of switchbacks, some unpaved or washed out (Centerline, Bordeaux Mountain, villa driveways). Contracts ban beaches, trails and off-roading; Slim Man's bans the road to Lameshur outright. Tyres and flats are usually on you.
Insurance you bring
Most companies sell no collision waiver: you show that YOUR insurance covers a Jeep or SUV in the USVI (a declarations page, an insurer's letter, or a credit-card coverage letter). You owe damage up to $1,500 (Conrad Sutton, Sunshine's) or $2,000 (St. John Car Rental). Varlack sells cover at $10 a day.
Licence
A U.S. licence is enough. Non-U.S. licences buy a temporary USVI permit at the counter: $30 at St. John Car Rental and Courtesy, $25 at Conrad Sutton; Aqua Blu exempts Canadian licences. Digital and paper temporary licences are refused at St. John Car Rental.
Age
25 at every company we read, 26 at Varlack. We found none renting to 21–24-year-olds.
The car stays on St. John
Every St. John company forbids taking its car off the island, barge included: $1,000 at St. John Car Rental, $1,000 a day at L&L. To use the barge, rent on St. Thomas.
Rental tax
The territory's rental surcharge is $5 a day (it rose from $3.75 with the FY2025 budget; some companies' pages still quote the old figure).
Jeep tops
Most companies forbid opening or removing the top or doors, with fines of $250–$500.
Gas
Fuel is sold in Cruz Bay and Coral Bay. Contracts are full-to-full: a refuelling charge runs $20–25 plus the fuel.
St. Thomas ↔ St. John

Taking a car on the barge

Two companies run the car barge between Red Hook (St. Thomas) and Enighed Pond in Cruz Bay, about 30 minutes: Big Red Barge (340-227-0918) and Love City Car Ferries (340-779-4000). A car or SUV is $65 one way or $80 round trip, and the driver, passengers and luggage ride free. A round-trip ticket only works on the same company's barge. Arrive 25–30 minutes early, and book online in season.

The barge only matters for a car rented on St. Thomas: every St. John company keeps its cars on the island. On St. Thomas, Budget, Hertz, Enterprise/National/Alamo, Dollar/Thrifty, Amalie, Paradise, Dexter and Virgin Islands Auto Rental allow it in their own terms, and Discount allows its 4WD and AWD cars; ask the others. Renting on St. Thomas is the fallback when St. John is sold out.

The car barge timetable and faresParking in Cruz Bay
Good to know

St. John car rental tips

Park in town

Cruz Bay parking is tight. St. John Car Rental's lot is free for its renters after 5 PM, Conrad Sutton's free for its renters, Lionel and Dolphin let renters park; L&L runs a paid lot with a renter discount. Our parking page has the rest.

Beach-lot fines

Rangers ticket and tow on the North Shore: tickets from $125, tows about $250 cash, and some companies add a fee per ticket. Park only in marked spaces, and go early.

Meet at the ferry

Courtesy, Lionel, Sunshine's, Aqua Blu and Varlack meet the passenger ferry with a sign; tell them which boat you are on. Late arrivals after 6 to 8 PM cost $35–100 extra.

Book the villa, then the Jeep

A reviewer called a dozen companies in high season and found them all sold out. Book the Jeep the day you book the villa, and read the minimum (3 to 7 days).

Deposits and cancelling

A $100–200 booking deposit is normal and often non-refundable; Conrad Sutton and Slim Man's want three weeks' notice to cancel. Several refuse debit cards and Amex.

Need the barge anyway?

If you are bringing groceries from St. Thomas's big stores or arriving late, renting at the St. Thomas airport and driving onto the barge can beat the passenger ferry, at $65 for the crossing.

Plan with VIslandGuide

More for St. John

The St. John guideBeaches, ferries, fares, weather and a true map.Taxi faresEvery official fixed fare, for when you would rather not drive.Ferries todayEvery crossing between the islands, with today's departures.Cruz Bay parkingThe lots, prices and the beach car parks.The car bargeRed Hook to Cruz Bay: both operators' timetables and fares.
Renting elsewhere

Car rentals on the other islands

Magens Bay from the hills above: the long white beach at the head of a sheltered bay on the north shore of St. Thomas13 companiesSt. ThomasTaxis do a resort or cruise stay; rent for a villa, beach-hopping or the barge to St. John.Water Island's hills and bays seen from Fort Segarra, with St. Thomas across the water behind1 companyWater IslandNo cars: Honeymoon Beach is a walk from the dock, a golf cart does the rest.St. Croix's East End from the air: green hills and reef-ringed headlands at Point Udall, the north shore running west into the distance6 companiesSt. CroixThe island is 28 miles long and the buses are few. A car pays for itself.Cane Garden Bay from the hillside above it: the curve of sand, yachts at anchor and the green north-shore hills9 companiesTortolaRent for a villa week or North Shore beach-hopping; taxis do a Road Town stay or a cruise day.The Baths, Virgin Gorda: granite boulders around a clear tidal pool under a blue sky2 companiesVirgin GordaA day trip to The Baths is a $5–10 taxi; staying a few nights, rent a car.White Bay, Jost Van Dyke, from the hillside: yachts on their moorings over turquoise water and a long strip of white sand2 companiesJost Van DykeGreat Harbour and White Bay are a walk or a short taxi apart; rent for the East End or a hillside villa.Loblolly Bay, Anegada: white sand curving away along the north shore, turquoise water over the reef and palm fronds overhead2 companiesAnegadaThe beaches are miles from the dock. A Jeep, moke, scooter or e-bike is the way round.

St. John car rental FAQ

Do I need a car on St. John?

For one North Shore beach a day, no: safari taxis meet the ferry and charge set fares (Cruz Bay to Trunk Bay is $12 for one, $9 each for two or more). For Coral Bay, the south shore or several beaches a day, rent: taxis thin out in the afternoon and there is no bus or ride-hailing.

How much is a Jeep rental on St. John?

Posted 2026–27 rates for a 4-door Wrangler run $105–145 a day (Varlack $105 in summer and $120 in winter; Slim Man's $125–135; Sunshine's $145 in season and $165 over the holidays), plus the $5 a day territory surcharge. Compact SUVs start near $70 in Sunshine's fall special.

Can I take a St. John rental car to St. Thomas?

No. Every St. John company forbids it, with fines of $1,000 or more. To use the car barge, rent on St. Thomas: most St. Thomas companies allow the crossing if you tell them.

Do I need my own insurance to rent a Jeep on St. John?

Usually, yes. Most St. John companies sell no collision waiver and ask for proof that your auto policy or credit card covers a Jeep or SUV in the USVI, and you owe damage up to a $1,500–2,000 deductible. Varlack sells cover at $10 a day.

How old do you have to be to rent a car on St. John?

25 at every St. John company we checked, and 26 at Varlack. If you are 21–24, rent from Budget or the Enterprise group at St. Thomas airport and take the barge.

When should I book a rental car on St. John?

For December to April, months ahead, when you book where you stay. Holiday weeks carry minimums of 5 to 7 days, and the island's small fleet sells out.

Sources & credits

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