Depends on your rental car company. Ask them. Some of the smaller ones don't want you to go to St. John because they would have to send a mechanic out to you in the event of a breakdown.
The car rental places in St. John don't want you to bring them over because, well, obviously you aren't going to rent from them.
The police don't want you to bring them over because the parking in Cruz Bay is limited but it is not illegal.
Pamela

In December I rented a compact car from Budget at the airport. I confirmed with them that I could take it on the car ferry to St John. It was great hopping from one beach to the next - Hawksnest, Cinnamon Bay and Trunk Bay. However, it was impossible trying to park in downtown Cruz Bay.

Hello T-Dub,

Its legal. Some car rental agencies allow it and some do not, so you need to confirm with the agency you choose. They all pretty much give you the stipulation that if something happens while over on St. John (like losing your key) you need to come back to St. Thomas to get it resolved since that is where their office is; so get the scoop on what they won't and will do for you if something should happen and you need their assistance. Otherwise its Ok.

--Islander

I just returned from VI and it was a complete nightmare getting the car ferry to and from St. John from Red Hook. We arrived at 8:30am hoping to get on the 9:00 or 9:30 ferry. We waited over 2 hours until we got on a car ferry. at 11:00am. It was absolute chaos. There was no order to how people were lining up to get their cars on. Everyone was cutting, swearing etc. The construction trucks were getting on before anyone else who had been waiting. It was EXTREMELY frustrating. Then we were so afraid we couldn't get on the last ferry back at 6:00pm because of our morning fiasco that we were forced to leave on the 4:00. We got there at 3:00 to get in line and it was the same nightmare then too. I WISH I would've just taken the people ferry - it would've saved me 4+ hours of time I could've spent enjoying St. John.

Unfortunately it's just enogh business for the 4 barges that run. When one is out, the chaos begins, two even worse. You must have gotten there on a two barge day. On days like those, you really should use the people ferry. Also if you do go, you would be better off coming back later, as the construction crews usually try to leave between 3:30 and 4:30, so the later hours may be better. They won't leave you over there if you are waiting. I have heard of them running until after 8pm to bring everyone back. Hopefully they will get it in order soon!
Ronnie

Ronnie,
Thanks for the info on that. The same problems occur in Port Clinton, Oh. with the ferry system. Its down to the fact that the 'regulars' know that if the last ferry is full, the company will add a another trip to get people off the islands. Its great to be able to buy your ticket, let the tourists worry and have another beer waiting for the 'last' ferry.

I will never take the car ferry again. I have done it 3 times in the past 3 months and it is exactly as Rosalyn described. It is utter chaos.

Ronnie, I take your word that they won't leave you behind, but in my most recent trip that meant that the last boat left nearly 2 hours later than scheduled. They were clearly waiting for a cement truck, because the ferry was supposed to go at 6:15, and it sat and sat and sat. Amazingly, at 8:07 this truck pulled up, boarded the boat and it immediately left. However, that meant we got in line at 5:30 and didn't hit the ground on STT until nearly 9. (And by the way, we were treated that whole time to about 100 decibles of XXX-rated rap from the fine young gentlemen in the next car). A real treat.

Take the people ferry!!!

By the way, today must have been a 2-barge day, because traffic was tied up from the high school to the ferry going one way and almost from Sapphire going the other at about 9:30 this morning.

Hope they straighten it out by Friday when I go over or I will take the people ferry again!
Ronnie

Hello,

Have to agree the Car Barge somedays is a piece of cake (mostly because I have taken it so many times so know what to expect and not expect) and some days its a nightmare. A ticket person at the dock would be a great improvement. There used to be someone at the dock on St. Thomas in a little booth, quite a few years ago, not sure why they stopped. In anycase someone might consider this a business oppurtunity; running a barge that caters more to tourist and residents that is better organized. The car barge now operates in my opionion in the following order of importance; services (postal truck, food vans, cement trucks ect), residents going back and forth and then day trip people. (Then again there is likely a reason, like during off season the service vehicles and residents are the ones keeping the barges running.) With the construction projects going on right now on St. John so greater demand on the barges, Stt suggestion is a good one particularly if you are short on time ie. cruise ship passengers.

--Islander

Actually. Lew Sewer from Capt. Vic tried just that. He bought another barge, the Island Vic and tried to run it alongside his Capt Vic at the Vics alloted time slot.. He took cars on the original and trucks on the new. As usual, the guys with the grey barge complained him to the Port Authority and now he has to wait for approval. I know he should have done it properly but, so now we have to wait for his plan to go into effect. Now the grey barges,who are the culprits, have their second boat off in an early dry dock, as thy hit something and did not report it! At least this is the way the story unfolds.
Ronnie