<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0001047166 <NAME> UNITED RENTALS NORTH AMERICA INC <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 <CASH> 21,795 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 262,025 <ALLOWANCES> 29,577 <INVENTORY> 74,895 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 0 <PP&E> 1,800,813 <DEPRECIATION> 428,743 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,557,002 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 0 <BONDS> 1,235,508 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 300,000 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 684 <OTHER-SE> 707,354 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 2,557,002 <SALES> 804,262 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 804,262 <CGS> 530,212 <TOTAL-COSTS> 197,651 <OTHER-EXPENSES> (4,524) <LOSS-PROVISION> 10,827 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 39,170 <INCOME-PRETAX> 41,153 <INCOME-TAX> 25,229 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 16,524 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 21,337 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (4,813) <EPS-PRIMARY> (.07) <EPS-DILUTED> (.07)