St. Thomas has the airport, so most visitors rent here, and some take the car on the barge to St. John. Here is every rental company we could confirm is trading: the airport counters, the local firms that meet you at baggage claim, what they charge, and which let the car on the barge.
Official taxis (vans with set per-person fares) wait at the airport and the cruise docks: the airport to Red Hook is $23 for one or $17 each for two or more, Charlotte Amalie to Magens Bay $15 or $12 each. For a hotel stay with a beach a day, that is cheaper than a car.
For a villa up a hill, several beaches a day, the East End or the car barge to St. John, a rental usually wins, and a family pays per-person taxi fares several times over. A compact does St. Thomas; a Jeep is for St. John and steep driveways.
The taxi column is the official fixed fare from Charlotte Amalie, there and back, for your party; change the rental rate to the quote you have.
Taxis win by $385 for 2 people over 5 days.
Taxi: the official fare Charlotte Amalie ↔ Magens Bay, $24 each way for 2 together, 2 rides a day. USVI 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.
Avis, Budget and Hertz have counters at Cyril E. King Airport; Enterprise, National and Alamo share a lot five minutes away by shuttle, and Dollar and Thrifty shuttle from Lindbergh Bay. The local companies meet you at baggage claim or the curb, and in May 2026 local writers were steering renters to them after the airport brands oversold. Which cars may go on the St. John barge is on each card.
13 companies, each checked as trading in 2025–26.
5 rental offices on St. Thomas; the numbers match the cards. Companies that deliver from a yard we could not place are listed but not pinned.
One of the desks inside the terminal. Reviews in 2025 report waits for cars at busy times; reserve early and expect a queue Friday to Sunday.
Trading: live location on avis.com; listed by the VI Port Authority (source). Checked Oct 18, 2026.
A locally owned Budget franchise of 40-plus years whose own site says plainly that you may take the car on the barge to St. John. A July 2026 renter waited 90 minutes for a car.
Trading: current rental policy and live booking on its own site; listed by the VI Port Authority (source). Checked Oct 18, 2026.
An independent, locally owned Hertz franchise. Named in a May 2026 warning about airport brands overselling Jeeps.
Trading: own site updated September 2026; listed by the VI Port Authority (source). Checked Oct 18, 2026.
The three brands share one lot off the airport. The one national group whose own pages spell out the barge rule.
Trading: live Enterprise and Alamo location pages with hours and policies (source). Checked Oct 18, 2026.
An independently owned Dollar and Thrifty franchise off the airport at Lindbergh Bay, on the same booking platform as the local Hertz and Budget.
Trading: own site and live booking (© 2025); Yelp listing updated June 2026 (source). Checked Oct 18, 2026.
Family-owned since 1999, mostly Jeeps and SUVs, and the local name forum regulars recommend most.
Trading: recommended by ExploreSTJ in May 2026; renters' January 2026 forum reports (source). Checked Oct 18, 2026.
Started in 2011 with five cars, now about fifty, mostly Wranglers, with the clearest all-in prices on the island.
Trading: recommended by ExploreSTJ in May 2026; Yelp listing updated September 2026 (source). Checked Oct 18, 2026.
A long-running local firm (4.7 from 700-plus Google reviews) with free airport pickup and unlimited miles.
Trading: 2026 reviews; recommended by ExploreSTJ in May 2026 (source). Checked Oct 18, 2026.
Locally owned since 2015, with a wide Jeep and SUV fleet delivered to the airport.
Trading: 2026 Tripadvisor reviews (car waiting at the airport) (source). Checked Oct 18, 2026.
A Jeep-and-SUV specialist on the East End, handy for Red Hook and the St. John barge.
Trading: © 2026 site with current rates, fleet photos added May 2026; 2025 reviews (source). Checked Oct 18, 2026.
Car rental alongside jet skis and boat charters, with some of the lowest posted rates on the island.
Trading: Tripadvisor reviews January and May 2026 (source). Checked Oct 18, 2026.
A budget local option praised for its airport pickups.
Trading: Tripadvisor reviews through 2025 (source). Checked Oct 18, 2026.
An all-4WD Jeep fleet with offices on St. Thomas and St. John; its terms let you take the car on the barge.
Trading: own site updated October 2026; Yelp listing updated April 2026 (source). Checked Oct 18, 2026.
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.
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.
Allowed in writing on the company's own pages: Budget, Hertz (its 2026 site reverses the old forum advice that Hertz alone forbade it), Enterprise/National/Alamo, Dollar/Thrifty, Amalie (every vehicle), Paradise, Dexter and Virgin Islands Auto Rental; Discount allows its 4WD and AWD vehicles, not its Corolla. Ask first at Avis, Rock City, 360 and Tropical Adventure. If the car breaks down on St. John, its company is on St. Thomas.
A car rented on St. John never comes the other way: every St. John company forbids taking its cars off the island.
Old forum threads, directories and some booking sites still list these. We found them closed, merged or gone; the source is linked.
Amalie, Paradise, Discount and Dexter meet you at baggage claim or the gate and take the car back at the departures curb; no shuttle, no queue.
If someone collects you: 15 minutes free, then $4 for an hour up to $20 for a day.
Paradise publishes all-in day rates (tax, fees and airport pickup included): a 4-door Wrangler is $130 in season, $85 from September 1 to November 15.
Walk round it with your phone before you drive off: tyres, rims and every scratch. Damage disputes are the commonest complaint in reviews.
Most companies forbid removing a Jeep's top or doors, with fines.
A day on St. John with the car costs $80 for the barge round trip. If you are only beach-hopping the North Shore, the passenger ferry and St. John's taxis may be cheaper.
12 companiesSt. JohnSafari taxis do the North Shore; for Coral Bay, the south shore or a few beaches a day, rent a Jeep, months ahead in winter.
1 companyWater IslandNo cars: Honeymoon Beach is a walk from the dock, a golf cart does the rest.
6 companiesSt. CroixThe island is 28 miles long and the buses are few. A car pays for itself.
9 companiesTortolaRent for a villa week or North Shore beach-hopping; taxis do a Road Town stay or a cruise day.
2 companiesVirgin GordaA day trip to The Baths is a $5–10 taxi; staying a few nights, rent a car.
2 companiesJost Van DykeGreat Harbour and White Bay are a walk or a short taxi apart; rent for the East End or a hillside villa.
2 companiesAnegadaThe beaches are miles from the dock. A Jeep, moke, scooter or e-bike is the way round.Avis and Budget have counters in baggage claim and Hertz just outside. Enterprise, National and Alamo share a lot five minutes away by shuttle; Dollar and Thrifty run a shuttle from Lindbergh Bay. Local companies such as Amalie, Paradise, Discount and Dexter meet you at baggage claim.
Usually, if you say so when you book. Budget, Hertz, Enterprise/National/Alamo, Dollar/Thrifty, Amalie, Paradise, Dexter and Virgin Islands Auto Rental allow the car barge in their own terms; Discount allows its 4WD and AWD cars. Ask Avis, Rock City, 360 and Tropical Adventure first. The barge is $65 one way or $80 round trip.
Not for a resort or cruise stay: taxis have set per-person fares (the airport to Red Hook is $23 for one, $17 each for two or more). For a villa, beach-hopping, the East End or a St. John day with the car, a rental usually wins.
Posted 2026 day rates for a 4-door Wrangler: Paradise $130 in season or $85 off-season, all-in; Rock City from $125; Tropical Adventure from $90. Add the $5 a day territory surcharge where it is not included.
25 at most companies. Budget and the Enterprise group rent to 21–24 for $25 a day extra, Hertz and Dollar/Thrifty for $35 a day.
Often for damage, rarely for liability. The local Hertz, Budget and Dollar/Thrifty franchises require proof of liability cover or sell you theirs; bring your insurer's declarations page or a letter.