St. John car rentals
St. John car rental happens at small desks in Cruz Bay, mostly Jeep Wranglers and four-wheel-drive SUVs. Their own sites quote $90 to $190 a day, or $660 to $1,750 a week, as of October 2026, and most want a non-refundable deposit to hold the car. Book online with the desk, ideally when you book the house.
Written by Virgin Islands Villas · Updated Oct 2026
The operators, side by side
| Name | What | Area | Group size | Rates | Phone | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. John Car Rental | Jeep Wranglers, Broncos and SUVs, all four-wheel drive; drivers 25 and over; $100 non-refundable deposit; peak season November 15 to August 15. | Cruz Bay | 5-seat Jeeps, 7-seat SUVs | $1,085 to $1,750 a week, by vehicle | (340) 776-6103 | Oct 2026 |
| O'Connor Car Rental | Toyota RAV4, Jeep Wrangler, Dodge Durango and Highlander; drivers 26 and over; in season November through May. | Cruz Bay, Route 104, and The Westin | 5 to 7 | $105 to $150 a day plus $5 a day tax; 3-day minimum | (340) 776-6343 | Oct 2026 |
| L&L Jeep Rental | Two- and four-door Wranglers and SUVs since 1990; drivers 25 and over; 3-day minimum on its home page, one-day rentals on its FAQ; $3.75 a day surcharge. | Enighed, Cruz Bay, two minutes' walk from the ferry | 2 to 5 | $665 to $910 a week, by vehicle and season | (340) 776-1120 | Oct 2026 |
| Conrad Sutton Jeep & Car Rental | Wranglers and SUVs, all four-wheel drive and automatic; drivers 25 and over; $200 non-refundable deposit. | 5BC Cruz Bay, a block from the ferry | up to 5 | $90 to $140 a day, by vehicle | (340) 776-6479 | Oct 2026 |
| Slim Man's Jeep Rental | Locally owned; two- and four-door Wranglers and Ford Broncos; higher rates December 1 to July 31. | Cruz Bay, a block from the ferry | 2 to 5 | $105 to $150 a day plus $5 a day tax, by season | (508) 796-8242 | Oct 2026 |
| Island Hopping Rentals | Wranglers, Broncos, a Grand Cherokee and a seven-seat Explorer; taxes included on most rates; closed in September. | 8B Adrian, Cruz Bay Quarters | 2 to 7 | $105 to $160 a day | (340) 228-2229 | Oct 2026 |
| Lionel Jeep Rental | Locally owned; Wranglers, Broncos and SUVs, all four-wheel drive; drivers 25 and over; $150 non-refundable deposit, balance due 7 days before arrival; its terms bar driving to Lameshur Bay. | Cruz Bay | up to 7 | $125 to $190 a day, by vehicle and season | (340) 693-8764 | Oct 2026 |
How to choose a St. John Jeep rental
Every desk in the table rents on St. John only. The age limit is 25 at St. John Car Rental, L&L Jeep Rental, Conrad Sutton and Lionel, and 26 at O'Connor, as of October 2026. O'Connor sets a three-day minimum; L&L's home page says three days and its FAQ says it rents for one. Deposits to hold a car are non-refundable where printed, $100 to $200.
Three desks print day rates, from $105 for a two-door Wrangler or a RAV4 to $160 for a seven-seat Explorer, each with its own season. The other four price through online booking, as of October 2026: Conrad Sutton $90 to $140 a day, Lionel $125 to $190, L&L $665 to $910 a week and St. John Car Rental $1,085 to $1,750. O'Connor and Slim Man's add $5 a day in tax; L&L and St. John Car Rental print a $3.75 daily road tax.
When to book a car on St. John
Early, by the desks' own account. Conrad Sutton says availability "fills up quickly, especially during peak season", and L&L says to book a year ahead for the best selection. St. John Car Rental's peak runs November 15 to August 15. L&L and St. John Car Rental close on Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day and July 4, so plan a holiday arrival with the desk.
The tradeoff: a St. John car stays on St. John
A car rented in Cruz Bay may not cross to St. Thomas. St. John Car Rental and Conrad Sutton say so in their FAQs, and L&L charges $1,000 a day if one leaves the island, as of October 2026. So the real choice is where you rent. Rent in Cruz Bay and you cross on the passenger ferry and collect the car in town. Rent at Cyril E. King Airport and the car comes over on the barge, at $65 a car one way per Love City Car Ferries as of October 2026, with its last barge from Red Hook at 7 pm; our car barge guide has every operator's times. Ask the St. Thomas company whether it allows the crossing.
Featured villas on St. John
All villas on St. JohnListed by their owners. See rates and dates, then write to the owner.
Questions about car and jeep rental on St. John
- What car rental companies are on St. John?
- Seven desks in Cruz Bay confirmed on their own sites in October 2026: St. John Car Rental, O'Connor Car Rental (with a second desk at The Westin), L&L Jeep Rental, Conrad Sutton Jeep & Car Rental, Slim Man's Jeep Rental, Island Hopping Rentals and Lionel Jeep Rental.
- Do you need a car in St. John?
- Almost everywhere. We measured 21 St. John areas in September 2026 and 19 came out car required; only the streets by the Cruz Bay dock let you walk to town and the ferry. Taxis wait at the ferry terminal, per the National Park Service, but a hillside house adds up to a car's worth of trips.
- Do you need a Jeep or four-wheel drive on St. John?
- For the main roads, no; for many driveways, it helps. Of the 21 St. John areas we measured, 13 came out steep. St. John Car Rental, Conrad Sutton and Lionel rent only four-wheel drive. Ask the owner whether the driveway takes a smaller car.
- Where are the Jeep rentals in Cruz Bay?
- Within a block or two of the passenger ferry, by their own descriptions: L&L, Conrad Sutton, Slim Man's and O'Connor, which has a second desk at The Westin. Island Hopping is at Cruz Bay Quarters, not The Marketplace.
Sources: National Park Service (checked Oct 9, 2026) · Love City Car Ferries (checked Oct 9, 2026)