<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0001067701 <NAME> UNITED RENTALS, INC. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1999 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1999 <CASH> 110,846 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 307,734 <ALLOWANCES> 47,289 <INVENTORY> 98,794 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 0 <PP&E> 1,891,964 <DEPRECIATION> 451,726 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 3,053,584 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 0 <BONDS> 1,260,545 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 300,000 <PREFERRED> 3 <COMMON> 715 <OTHER-SE> 1,114,363 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 3,053,584 <SALES> 392,309 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 392,309 <CGS> 73,386 <TOTAL-COSTS> 258,318 <OTHER-EXPENSES> (206) <LOSS-PROVISION> 9,946 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 24,373 <INCOME-PRETAX> 27,519 <INCOME-TAX> 11,294 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 16,225 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 16,225 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.24 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.18