How long does it take?
Ocean transit commonly runs about a week; allow 2–3 weeks door to door around sailings. The route covers about 1,100 ocean miles from South Florida to Charlotte Amalie.
Shipping a car from Miami to St. Thomas
Published estimates for shipping a car from Miami to St. Thomas ranged $1,500–$3,800 (standard sedan, US mainland to St. Thomas, RoRo or container), and transit is commonly runs about a week.
Know this first: St. Thomas drives on the left — in left-hand-drive American cars — on steep, narrow roads; compact vehicles genuinely work better here.
What route does the car take?
Weekly sailings from Florida ports into Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas.
When should I ship?
Year-round weekly service. Hurricane season (June–November) is the schedule risk; winter high season fills vessels with household and commercial cargo.
What will it cost?
Published third-party estimates ranged $1,500–$3,800 (standard sedan, US mainland to St. Thomas, RoRo or container, collected August 2026). The quote covers ocean freight from Florida; the USVI road tax on arriving vehicles is a separate government fee paid before release. Smaller vehicles are cheaper to ship and easier to live with on island roads.
What this route costs
Published estimates collected August 2026 · standard sedan, US mainland to St. Thomas, RoRo or container
$1,500–$3,800
$1,600–$3,500
as published by A-1 Auto Transport
door-to-port RoRo, 14–25 days total
$1,500–$3,000
as published by All Transport Depot
to Port of Charlotte Amalie, ocean transit 2–4 weeks
$1,500–$3,800
as published by We Will Transport It
ground transport to Miami plus the ocean leg
On arrival the USVI assesses a road tax of $0.16 per pound, plus 6% duty on foreign-made vehicles (US-made vehicles are exempt).
These figures are estimates published by third-party transport companies, shown here for orientation with their sources and collection date. They are not quotes from Car Shipping Miami or from providers on this marketplace, and they are not binding on anyone. Independent providers set their own pricing for your specific shipment.
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Sourced data
The numbers behind this route
Every figure below names its source — the standard the whole site holds itself to.
Left side
the USVI is the only US jurisdiction that drives on the left
Source: USVI traffic code
~Weekly
sailing cadence from Florida ports to Charlotte Amalie
Source: Ocean carrier published schedules
Miami to St. Thomas, easy as 1-2-3
Tell us the route and the vehicle
Both endpoints, the vehicle, whether it runs, and your timing — an island move starts the same way a driven one does.
A provider quotes it and books a sailing
Ask whether the figure is port-to-port or door-to-port, then book against the sailing’s drop-off cutoff.
Port drop-off, crossing, island pickup
Deliver the car nearly empty with the title and ID, then collect it at the island port once arrival fees are settled.
How this route behaves
What to know about Miami to St. Thomas
US territory, but the port still runs the show
No customs export is required, yet the mechanics are pure ocean freight: fixed sailing days, check-in cutoffs, quarter-tank and no-belongings rules, and title paperwork at booking. Miss the cutoff and the car waits a week.
Plan for the road tax on arrival
The USVI assesses a road tax on vehicles entering the territory, payable before release. It is a government fee outside any transport quote — confirm the current rate for your vehicle’s weight before you ship.
The island drives on the left — in American cars
St. Thomas traffic keeps left while nearly every vehicle is left-hand drive, and roads are steep, narrow and winding. Compact SUVs and sedans are the practical island choice; oversized trucks can be genuinely hard to live with there.
Common questions
Miami to St. Thomas car shipping, answered
How long does car shipping from Miami to St. Thomas take?
Ocean transit commonly runs about a week; allow 2–3 weeks door to door around sailings. The route covers about 1,100 ocean miles from South Florida to Charlotte Amalie.
When is the best time to ship a car from Miami to St. Thomas?
Year-round weekly service. Hurricane season (June–November) is the schedule risk; winter high season fills vessels with household and commercial cargo.
How much does it cost to ship a car from Miami to St. Thomas?
Published third-party estimates ranged $1,500–$3,800 (standard sedan, US mainland to St. Thomas, RoRo or container, collected August 2026). The quote covers ocean freight from Florida; the USVI road tax on arriving vehicles is a separate government fee paid before release. Smaller vehicles are cheaper to ship and easier to live with on island roads.
Is there customs paperwork for St. Thomas?
No foreign customs — it’s US territory. But port mechanics still rule: fixed sailing days, check-in cutoffs, quarter-tank and no-belongings rules, and the road tax before release.
Should I even bring a big SUV or truck?
Think hard first. Island roads are steep, narrow and winding, parking is tight, and left-side driving in a left-hand-drive car rewards visibility over size.
Is the price port-to-port or door-to-door?
Published ocean-carrier tariffs are usually port-to-port — you deliver the car to the Florida terminal and collect it at the island port. Door-to-port and door-to-door arrangements exist and cost more because a truck leg is added at one or both ends. Always ask which basis a quote uses.
What documents does the port need?
Typically the original title (or a lien-holder authorization if the car is financed), your photo ID and the booking confirmation. Ports enforce document and drop-off cutoffs ahead of each sailing, so have the paperwork ready before you drive to the terminal.
Can I ship belongings inside the car?
On ocean moves, generally no — carriers require the vehicle near-empty, and the fuel tank kept low. Pack separately rather than planning to use the car as a container.
Can a non-running car go by ship?
Often yes, with notice — the terminal needs to move it with its own equipment, which adds handling charges. Whether the car rolls, steers and brakes decides how workable it is, so describe the condition accurately when you request quotes.
Open transportThe standard way most cars move.Enclosed transportCovered trailers for cars that warrant it.
Other routes people ship from Miami
Distances and transit ranges describe how these routes typically behave. They are not quotes, and they are not a commitment by Car Shipping Miami or any provider. Import duties, taxes and vehicle-eligibility rules are set by governments and change — confirm current requirements before booking any ocean or international shipment. The provider you speak with gives the estimate that applies to your shipment.
Car Shipping Miami is a marketplace and advertising platform. Car Shipping Miami does not transport vehicles or provide transportation services. Transportation quotes and services are offered by independent providers. Review provider information and terms before choosing a service. How this marketplace works
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