EXHIBIT 12a UNITED RENTALS, INC. STATEMENT OF COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES Year Ended December 31 ----------------------------------------------------------- Three Months Ended 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 March 31, 2001 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- -------------- (dollars in thousands) Earnings: Income before provision for income taxes and extraordinary items ........................ $38,146 $34,917 $ 78,297 $241,807 $301,496 $ 5,832 Interest expense .............. 11,278 11,847 64,157 139,828 228,779 57,530 Amortization of debt issuance costs ............... 78 124 1,423 4,154 6,880 2,237 Interest portion of rent expense (1) ............. 1,514 2,305 6,834 21,833 45,767 15,324 ------- ------- -------- -------- -------- ------- Earnings as adjusted ................... $51,016 $49,193 $150,711 $407,622 $582,922 $80,923 ======= ======= ======== ======== ======== ======= Fixed charges: Interest expense .............. $11,278 $11,847 $ 64,157 $139,828 $228,779 $57,530 Amortization of debt issuance costs ............... 78 124 1,423 4,154 6,880 2,237 Interest portion of rent expense (1) ............. 1,514 2,305 6,834 21,833 45,767 15,324 ------- ------- ------- -------- -------- ------ Fixed charges ............... $12,870 $14,276 $ 72,414 $165,815 $281,426 $75,091 ======= ======= ======== ======== ======== ======= Ratio of earnings to fixed charges .................. 4.0x 3.4x 2.1x 2.5x 2.1x 1.1x - -------- (1) The interest portion of rent expense is estimated to be one-third of rent expense.