<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0001067701 <NAME> UNITED RENTALS, INC. <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1998 <CASH> 5,486,092 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 74,980,625 <ALLOWANCES> 7,778,000 <INVENTORY> 33,255,606 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 0 <PP&E> 346,461,145 <DEPRECIATION> 15,155,834 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 889,164,469 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 0 <BONDS> 389,181,344 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 341,921 <OTHER-SE> 418,052,245 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 889,164,469 <SALES> 127,351,280 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 127,351,280 <CGS> 80,112,477 <TOTAL-COSTS> 109,028,900 <OTHER-EXPENSES> (527,547) <LOSS-PROVISION> 838,760 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 4,936,708 <INCOME-PRETAX> 13,913,219 <INCOME-TAX> 5,693,143 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 8,220,076 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 8,220,076 <EPS-PRIMARY> .27 <EPS-DILUTED> .23