Title 20 — Highways and Motor Vehicles
18 chapters · 279 sections in this title.
20 V.I.C. § 221 Salvage certificate
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A salvage certificate shall be prima facie evidence of ownership of a salvage vehicle. A salvage certificate shall include an odometer disclosure provision, a control number, and a statement that such salvage vehicle can only be re-titled after the inspection required by section …
20 V.I.C. § 222 Duties of a salvage vehicle purchaser
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(a) No salvage vehicle purchaser shall possess or retain a salvage vehicle which does not have a salvage certificate. The salvage vehicle purchaser shall display the salvage certificate upon the request of any appropriate public official. In the event of the sale or assignment of…
20 V.I.C. § 223 Junk vehicles
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(a) At the time a person owning a junk vehicle surrenders the certificate of title or salvage certificate, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles shall issue a junk certificate to the person which shall contain the vehicle year, make, vehicle identification number, and a control number. Th…
20 V.I.C. § 224 Retitling salvage and reconstructed vehicle; requirements
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(a) Prior to operating a reconstructed vehicle or a rebuilt salvage vehicle, the owner shall present the vehicle, together with the salvage certificate if it is a rebuilt salvage vehicle, or the certificate of title if it is a reconstructed vehicle, and appropriate receipts or bi…
20 V.I.C. § 225 Exporting vehicle
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(a) The owner of a vehicle titled in the Virgin Islands who seeks to export the vehicle shall first surrender the certificates of title to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. For purposes of this section, “export” means the shipping or transporting of a vehicle out of the Virgin Island…
20 V.I.C. § 225a Intra-territorial motor vehicle transport
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(a) The owner of a motor vehicle titled in the Virgin Islands who seeks to transport such vehicle must present a valid registration to the shipping carrier and notify the Bureau that the vehicle is being shipped to another island as a condition precedent to transport. This shall …
20 V.I.C. § 225b Transfer on death beneficiary for vehicles
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(a) The owner or owners of a vehicle may create an interest in the vehicle that is transferrable on the death of the owner or owners by obtaining a certificate of title conveying the interest in the vehicle to one (1) or more persons as transfer on death beneficiaries. Where ther…
20 V.I.C. § 225c Special Permit required for vehicles brought into the Virgin Islands
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(a) The owner or purchaser of a motor vehicle who brings a motor vehicle into the Virgin Islands shall pay the applicable fees to obtain a Special Permit from the Bureau of Motor that the vehicle is insured, the highway user tax was paid, that the owner of the vehicle can be veri…
20 V.I.C. § 226 Penalty
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(a) A person who violates any of the requirements of sections 220 through 225 of this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor on a first offense and upon conviction is subject to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one (1) year and a penalty not exceeding $1,000, and is guilty of a …
20 V.I.C. § 251 Applicability of subchapter; purchase free of security interest
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(a) This subchapter does not apply to or affect:1. A lien given by statute or rule of law to a supplier of services or materials for the vehicle;2. A lien given by statute to the Government of the United States, the Government of the Virgin Islands or any agency, department or in…
20 V.I.C. § 252 Perfection of security interests
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(a) Unless excepted by section 251 of this chapter, a security interest in a vehicle of a type for which a certificate of title is required is subordinate to the rights of persons who become subsequent transferees or lienholders of the vehicle before the security interest is perf…
20 V.I.C. § 253 Security interest
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(a) If an owner creates a security interest in a vehicle:(a) The owner shall immediately execute the application, in the space provided therefor on the certificate of title or on a separate form the Bureau of Motor Vehicles prescribes, to name the first priority lienholder on the…
20 V.I.C. § 254 Assignment by lienholder
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(a) A first priority lienholder may assign, absolutely or otherwise, his security interest in the vehicle to a person other than the owner without affecting the interest of the owner or the validity of the security interest, but any person without notice of the assignment is prot…
20 V.I.C. § 256 Duty of lienholder
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A first priority lienholder named in a certificate of title shall, upon written request of the owner, disclose any pertinent information as to his security agreement and the indebtedness secured by it.
20 V.I.C. § 257 Exclusiveness of procedure
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(a) The method provided in this chapter of perfecting and giving notice of security interests subject to this chapter are hereby exempted from the provisions of law which otherwise require or relate to the filing of instruments creating or evidencing security interests including …
20 V.I.C. § 258 Suspension or revocation of certificates
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(a) The Bureau of Motor Vehicles shall suspend or revoke a certificate of title, upon notice and reasonable opportunity to be heard in accordance with section 260 of this chapter, when authorized by any other provision of law or if it finds:1. The certificate of title was fraudul…
20 V.I.C. § 259 Powers of Bureau of Motor Vehicles
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(a) The Bureau of Motor Vehicles shall prescribe and provide suitable forms of applications, certificates of title, notices of security interests, and all other notices and forms necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter. (b) The Bureau of Motor Vehicles may make nece…
20 V.I.C. § 260 Court review
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A person aggrieved by an act or omission to act of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles under this chapter is also entitled to a review thereof by the Superior Court provided such action is taken within 30 days of final determination by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
20 V.I.C. § 276 Previously registered vehicle defined
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A “previously registered vehicle” means a vehicle registered in this Territory pursuant to chapter 33 of this title when this chapter takes effect or a vehicle whose last registration before this chapter takes effect was in this Territory.
20 V.I.C. § 277 Deferred application of chapter to previously registered vehicles
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(a) Subchapters I and II of this chapter do not apply to a previously registered vehicle until:(a) It is purchased from a dealer in this Territory after this chapter takes effect;(b) It is registered pursuant to chapter 33 of this title after this chapter takes effect; or(c) The …
20 V.I.C. § 278 Distinctive certificate
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If the Bureau of Motor Vehicles is not satisfied that there are no undisclosed security interests, created before this chapter takes effect, in a previously registered vehicle, it may, in addition to its options under section 211 of this chapter, issue a distinctive certificate o…
20 V.I.C. § 279 Security interest in a previously registered vehicle
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A security interest in a previously registered vehicle for which no certificate of title or application for a certificate is required is perfected by the delivery to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles of a notice of security interest in the form the Bureau of Motor Vehicles prescribes;…
20 V.I.C. § 280 Unsatisfied security interest in a previously registered vehicle
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(a) If a security interest in a previously registered vehicle is perfected under any other applicable law of the Virgin Islands at the time this chapter takes effect, the security interest continues perfected:(a) Until its perfection lapses under the law under which it was perfec…
20 V.I.C. § 281 Filing and record of notices of security interests; examination of record
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(a) The Bureau of Motor Vehicles shall file such notice of security interest received by it and maintain a record of all notices of security interests filed by it:(1) Alphabetically, under the name of the owner;(2) Under the identifying number of the vehicle; and(3) In the discre…
20 V.I.C. § 291 Certificate of title penalties
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(a) Unless otherwise provided in this chapter, a person who with fraudulent intent:(1) Alters, forges or counterfeits a certificate of title;(2) Alters or an assignment of a certificate of title or an assignment or release of a security interest, on a certificate of title or a fo…
20 V.I.C. § 292 Vehicle identification number
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(a) A person who willfully removes or falsifies and upon conviction is subject to imprisonment for a term of not more than six (6) months and a penalty of not more than $500. (b) A person who, willfully and with intent to conceal or misrepresent the identity of a vehicle or vehic…
20 V.I.C. § 331 Registration required
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(a) Except as provided in this chapter, no motor vehicle, bicycle, or trailer shall be operated upon the public highways of the Virgin Islands unless—(1) it has been registered by the Director of Motor Vehicles;(2) a registration license has been issued therefor; and(3) it is equ…
20 V.I.C. § 332 Procedure for registration
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(a) Application for the registration of a motor vehicle, bicycle or trailer shall be made to the Director of Motor Vehicles on a form prescribed and furnished by the Director. (b) The following information shall appear upon the records of registration kept by the Director and upo…
20 V.I.C. § 333 Registration licenses
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At all times while a motor vehicle required to be registered under this chapter is being operated upon the public highways, the registration license issued therefor shall be in the possession of the operator or carried in the vehicle and subject to inspection by any peace officer…
20 V.I.C. § 334 License plates
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(a) License plates shall be of the type prescribed by the Director of Motor Vehicles and shall bear the distinctive license numbers or personalized license assigned under the provisions of section 332 of this title. License plates shall be effective for a license year expiring on…
20 V.I.C. § 334a Specialty license plates
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Veteran license plates. The Director of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles shall make available license plates designed specifically to pay tribute to the sacrifices and deeds of the Virgin Islands veterans who served in the Armed Forces of the United States. The following criteria app…
20 V.I.C. § 335 Change of ownership, address, or name
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(a) Except as provided in section 339 of this chapter, if the ownership of a motor vehicle is transferred, the transferor of such motor vehicle shall, within twenty-four hours of such transfer, notify the Director of Motor Vehicles of such transfer on forms provided by the Direct…
20 V.I.C. § 336 Dealers' licenses
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(a) Any manufacturer's agent or dealer in motor vehicles may apply for a dealer's license. The application shall be sworn to or affirmed and shall contain such information as the Director of Motor Vehicles may require. On presentation of an application properly executed and payme…
20 V.I.C. § 337 Repealed. Mar. 9, 1971. No. 2952, § 5, Sess. L. 1971, p. 19
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20 V.I.C. § 337 Statutes current through Act 9046 of the 2025 session of the 36th Legislature, including all code changes through October 25, 2025 Virgin Islands Code AnnotatedCopyright © 2026 All rights reserved.
20 V.I.C. § 338 Repealed. Aug. 20, 2010, No. 7183, § 16, Sess. L. 2010, p. 118
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20 V.I.C. § 338 Statutes current through Act 9046 of the 2025 session of the 36th Legislature, including all code changes through October 25, 2025 Virgin Islands Code AnnotatedCopyright © 2026 All rights reserved.
20 V.I.C. § 339 Registration licenses and license plates for automobiles for hire
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(a) On and after October 1, 1978, the Director of Motor Vehicles shall require that each automobile for hire presented to him for inspection and registration be accompanied by a separate taxicab medallion registered to the automobile owner and obtained under subchapter II, chapte…
20 V.I.C. § 340 Commercial trailers
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(a) Any container cargo line or its agent shall apply for license plates for transit, commercial trailers. The application shall be sworn to or affirmed and it shall contain such information as the Director of Motor Vehicles may require. The cost of each such license plate (one p…
20 V.I.C. § 341 Effect of liens
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The registration and licensing of motor vehicles, as well as the acknowledgment and registration of changes in ownership of motor vehicles, under this chapter, shall be subject to the provisions of chapter 43, section 497, subsection (g) of this title.
20 V.I.C. § 351 Purpose of chapter
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The purpose of this chapter is to provide for the regulation and control of the size and weights of vehicles on the public streets and highways of the Virgin Islands.
20 V.I.C. § 352 Definitions
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(a) The terms, used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning, are defined as follows:(a) Vehicles—every device in, upon or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a public road or highway, excepting devices moved by human pow…
20 V.I.C. § 353 Weight of vehicles and trailers restricted
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(a) No vehicle or combination of vehicles or combination of vehicle and trailer or semi-trailer nor any other object shall be operated upon any public highway or bridge without the permit described in section 354, the gross weight of which including its load exceeds the following…
20 V.I.C. § 354 Permit for vehicles of excessive weight
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The Commissioner of Public Works is authorized, upon application in writing, to grant permits for transporting heavy vehicles or other objects not conforming to the provisions of section 353. Such permits shall be written, and may limit the highways or bridges which may be used, …
20 V.I.C. § 355 Facilities
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It shall be the duty of the Commissioner of the Public Works Department to provide and maintain in St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John the necessary portable equipment for the weighing of the subject vehicles. The equipment to be manned by the Department of Public Works.
20 V.I.C. § 356 Penalties
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Any person, firm or corporation violating any provisions of this chapter, or failing to comply with any order or regulation made pursuant to any provision, shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars ($500) or imprisoned not more than thirty (30) days or both.
20 V.I.C. § 371 Operator's license required
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(a) Except as provided in this chapter, no person shall operate a motor vehicle upon the public highways without an operator's license issued by the Director of Motor Vehicles. (b) The licensee shall have such license in his immediate possession at all times when operating a moto…
20 V.I.C. § 371a Educational information and examination questions pertaining to distracted driving
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In addition to the inclusion of laws and regulations applicable to the operation of a motor vehicle, the police department shall include educational information on the use of mobile telephones and other electronic devices while driving in the Virgin Islands Drivers Manual and sha…
20 V.I.C. § 371b Motorcycle license
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No person may operate a motorcycle unless the person holds a special motorcycle license or motorcycle learner's permit issued by the Director.
20 V.I.C. § 371c Helmet; sale or rental; posting requirements
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(a) No person may operate or ride upon a motorcycle or a bicycle equipped with a motor unless he wears a securely fitted protective helmet of a size proper for that person and of a type approved by the Director. The Director may adopt rules and regulations covering the types and …
20 V.I.C. § 371d Posting requirements
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(1) Any person regularly engaged in the business of selling or renting motorcycles or bicycles shall post a sign at the point where the sale or rental transaction is completed stating: “TERRITORY LAW REQUIRES A MOTOR BICYCLE OR BICYCLE RIDER TO WEAR A HELMET.” The size of the sig…
20 V.I.C. § 371e Administration, enforcement and civil penalties
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Civil penalties charged pursuant to sections 371c and 371d may be assessed by the Director administratively if the person charged with violating this section has been given the opportunity for a hearing on the record before the Director or his designee, and if the Director has ma…