<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0001047166 <NAME> UNITED RENTALS, INC. <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1998 <CASH> 54,785,007 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 35,256,000 <ALLOWANCES> 3,813,000 <INVENTORY> 14,933,813 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 0 <PP&E> 158,420,453 <DEPRECIATION> 5,776,064 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 450,127,183 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 0 <BONDS> 26,494,068 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 333,137 <OTHER-SE> 384,300,141 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 450,127,183 <SALES> 39,190,166 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 39,190,166 <CGS> 25,036,658 <TOTAL-COSTS> 33,930,013 <OTHER-EXPENSES> (380,703) <LOSS-PROVISION> 19,919 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1,172,718 <INCOME-PRETAX> 4,468,138 <INCOME-TAX> 1,829,787 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 2,638,351 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 2,638,351 <EPS-PRIMARY> .10 <EPS-DILUTED> .09