I'm looking to rent a jeep (because there cheaper) or car, has anyone got any recommendations where to rent and what I can expect to pay per month including insurance...

rental period will be either 3 or 6 months depending on the monthly cost...

For long term, you should be able to get an ageing Suzuki Caribbean for around B10,000 PCM if you shop around. For a small current model sedan (Toyota Vios, Honda City or similar) expect to pay around B17,000 PCM. You may get as low as B14k (I do, but only due to Loyalty Customer rates - although they kindly call me a Royalty Customer! - as a many time repeat customer). Check the Phuket Gazette classifieds and also Google car rental mobs and email them asking for their best long term rates. You'll be wasting your time with the big name mobs - far too expensive and you can get the same quality of service from local dealers.

* Make sure * you've got an IDP (International Driver's Permit) and check the wording of the insurance contract very carefully (it's usually only a few paragraphs). Be wary of the beach rental vendors (some of them are okay, some are not) and fly-by-nighters - some of them will charge you for mechanical failure even if it's only due to fair wear and tear. Some of them want to hold your passport or licence (!) during the rental period - give those ones a miss. A photocopy of your passport is sufficient for decent dealers. Clarify this requirement before you go there (if you find them on the web).

Thanks for the detailed response and great suggestions ping...

If you're looking for a fun jeep you should just make a deal with the guys who have REAL jeeps on the beach @ patong/kata or even rawaii.. they're not that much more expensive and compared to those suzuki deadbeat cars, you'll be in heaven.

ship inn panwa go there he has a good jeep for rent

all the jeeps are older than 10 years, thus no 1st class insurance. You damage it you pay. usually you damage something/someone else, you pay also