How To Register A Vehicle On The Virgin Islands | Process & Procedure
In order to legally operate a motor vehicle in the U.S. Virgin Islands, you will have to get it registered, even if you’re shipping it from another country. If shipping from the United States, the duty is comparatively low (from 0 to 6%), but you will need to bring some relevant paperwork such as the bill of lading and vehicle title. The section below goes into more detail about the required documents.
Many types of vehicles are used in the Virgin Islands, with some of the more popular options being scooters, mopeds, motorcycles, jeeps, and jet skis. Though the cost and process may vary slightly, all of these vehicles, as well as any other, will still need to be registered before operation.
Process of Vehicle Registration
As far as the process itself is concerned, it’s rather straightforward registering a car, truck, or motorcycle in the Virgin Islands, even if it’s imported from another country. Here are the basic steps you’ll need to go through:
- Customs Clearance
- Road Tax Payment
- Proof of Insurance
- Temporary Permit (moving permit)
- Vehicle Inspection
- Registration Payment
Virgin Islands Vehicle Inspection
One aspect of vehicle registration that is required in every country outside of the U.S. (and within it) is the vehicle inspection. Once completed, you will receive a roadworthiness or inspection certificate that you then must take with you, along with the other paperwork you’ll receive, to pay registration costs and get your local license plates.
The roadworthiness inspection includes a check of the major operational and safety features of the vehicle. Things like mirrors, head lights, brakes, steering system, turn signals, and required road safety items are part of a typical inspection. Vehicle inspections can be done at the offices of a the Bureau of Motor Vehicles for the U.S. Virgin Islands.
For a more in-depth look at the process of shipping a car (or other type of vehicle) to the Virgin Islands, visit our dedicated resource page about the topic by clicking here! Topics covered include the expected shipping costs, the paperwork you’ll need, and what type of transport options are available.
Driving On The Virgin Islands & General Vehicle Resources
In this section, we’ll explain some of the quirks and differences of driving on the Virgin Islands and then offer some resources to round out what you’ll need to know when getting a license and operating a vehicle.
Driving On The Virgin Islands
Like most islands and island nations, the roads of the Virgin Islands are not always in the same condition as the nicely paved highways and streets you may be used to. The main roads certainly are, and you may not even notice the difference there, but there are some roads that dirt, some of which involve step inclines. This can even be the case at some residences so be prepared to deal with some adversity if you’re importing a car that is not equipped to deal with less than ideal road conditions.
Cars drive on the left side of the road on the islands, but they are not required to have the steering column on the right side.
US Virgin Islands Driving Resources
Vehicle Traffic Fees & Fines - A breakdown of the costs for specific traffic and vehicle violations in the Virgin Islands. The laws should be mostly familiar, but the fees can quickly add up since they escalate with each ensuing offense.
USVI Driver License Application Form - View the document and information from t he driver license application form from the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. If you’re unsure of what documents are needed, or what you’ll need to do to get a local license, this has the answers!
Are you considering shipping a vehicle to the U.S. Virgin Islands? Call us today at the number at the top of the page to learn more, get your questions answered, or if you’d like a FREE price quote! All estimates are FREE of charge for all interested parties!
Written By:
Joe Webster
Joe Webster began his journey in the auto transport field by attending the University of Southern California (USC), where he graduated with a Bachelor of Business Marketing.
After college, he started his career in the auto transport industry from the bottom up and has done virtually every job there is to do at A-1 Auto Transport, including but not limited to: Truck Driver, Dispatch, Sales, PR, Bookkeeping, Transport Planner, Transport Manager, International Transport Manager, Brokering, Customer Service, and Marketing. Working with his mentor Tony Taylor, Joe Webster has learned the ins and outs of this industry which is largely misunderstood.
With over 30 years experience in the industry, we've been helping people ship their vehicles, motorcycles, RV's, heavy equipment, household goods and more across the country or overseas without a hitch. Ask us anything.
