<ARTICLE> 5
<CIK> 0001067701
<NAME> United Rentals, Inc.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1998
<CASH>                                          20,410
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  274,483
<ALLOWANCES>                                    41,201
<INVENTORY>                                     70,994
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     0
<PP&E>                                       1,737,389
<DEPRECIATION>                                 408,872
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,634,663
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                0
<BONDS>                                      1,314,574
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          300,000
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           684
<OTHER-SE>                                     725,546
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 2,634,663
<SALES>                                      1,220,282
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             1,220,282
<CGS>                                          226,174
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  796,834
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               (4,906)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                22,530
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              64,157
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 78,297
<INCOME-TAX>                                    43,499
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             34,798
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                 21,337
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    13,461
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.20
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.18