<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE AUDITED
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF RENTAL SERVICE CORPORATION AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1995 AND
1996 AND FOR EACH OF THE YEARS THEN ENDED AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0001016572
<NAME> RENTAL SERVICE CORP
<RESTATED>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR<F1> YEAR<F1>
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1995 DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1995 JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1995 DEC-31-1996
<CASH> 1,455,000 1,452,000
<SECURITIES> 0 0
<RECEIVABLES> 16,218,000 23,021,000
<ALLOWANCES> 1,291,000 2,165,000
<INVENTORY> 5,997,000 10,099,000
<CURRENT-ASSETS> 0 0
<PP&E> 77,156,000 166,210,000
<DEPRECIATION> 13,709,000 29,246,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 137,832,000 218,933,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 0 0
<BONDS> 68,555,000 68,594,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 28,401,000 0
<PREFERRED> 0 0
<COMMON> 42,000 114,000
<OTHER-SE> 4,000 94,958,000
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 137,832,000 218,933,000
<SALES> 18,747,000 34,136,000
<TOTAL-REVENUES> 65,917,000 128,354,000
<CGS> 12,617,000 24,070,000
<TOTAL-COSTS> 48,162,000 97,112,000
<OTHER-EXPENSES> 7,285,000 15,776,000
<LOSS-PROVISION> 1,040,000 1,692,000
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 3,314,000 7,063,000
<INCOME-PRETAX> 6,116,000 6,711,000
<INCOME-TAX> 2,401,000 2,722,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING> 3,715,000 3,989,000
<DISCONTINUED> 0 0
<EXTRAORDINARY> 478,000 1,269,000
<CHANGES> 0 0
<NET-INCOME> 3,237,000 2,720,000
<EPS-PRIMARY> .38 .16
<EPS-DILUTED> .37 .15
<FN>
<F1>THE FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULES FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995 AND 1996
ARE RESTATED TO CONFIRM THEIR PRESENTATION TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FAS # 128.
</FN>