2019 US Virgin Islands Code
Title 20 - Highways and Motor Vehicles
Part II - Motor Vehicles
Chapter 38 - Regulation of Car Rental Business
§ 418. Imputed liability
(a) No drive-yourself car may be rented to any person unless liability insurance, set forth in a policy form approved as required by law, has been procured by the licensee, in respect to such car, and is in effect whereby the insurer agrees to pay, subject to the conditions of the policy form, on behalf of the driver (as hereinafter defined), as the beneficiary, all sums which such driver shall become legally obligated to pay as damages because of bodily injury, sickness or disease, including death, or because of injury to or destruction of property, including the loss of use thereof (hereinafter referred to collectively as personal and property damages), caused by accident and arising out of the use or operation of the drive-yourself car by the driver. For the purposes of this section and section 419, “driver” shall mean any person, other than the licensee or his agent, using or operating the drive-yourself car with the permission, express or implied, of such licensee or his agent.
(b) A licensee who (1) rents any automobile or station wagon to another person under any circumstances which render inapplicable or unenforceable the liability insurance required by this chapter, or (2) has failed to procure or does not have in effect, during the time when a drive-yourself car is rented to another person, the liability insurance with all of the provisions required by this chapter, shall, in addition to any other penalties provided for violation of this chapter, be liable and responsible for all personal and property damages, but not exceeding the minimum liability limits required by subsection (c) of this section, which are proximately caused by the negligent or reckless use or operation of any such vehicle by the person to whom rented or by any other person using or operating the vehicle with the express or implied permission of the licensee or his agent.
(c) The limits of liability in the liability insurance required under this section shall be for not less than $10,000 for personal injuries to one person, one accident, $25,000 for personal injuries to two or more persons, one accident, and $10,000 for property damage, one accident; Provided, however, That said policy shall be deemed to comply with the provisions of this section in the event that one policy is procured to cover the minimum amounts of liability on any and of all drive-yourself cars to be rented, operated, or used in the Virgin Islands by any one licensee.
(d) Any person injured or whose property is damaged or the personal representative of any person killed, under the provisions of this chapter, who initiates any action against the driver of a drive-yourself car shall within five days after filing such action; give notice of such action to the licensee from whom the vehicle was rented; however, failure to give notice shall not be a defense in any action.
