<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0001047166 <NAME> UNITED RENTALS (NORTH AMERICA), 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> 119,709 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 307,734 <ALLOWANCES> 47,289 <INVENTORY> 98,794 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 0 <PP&E> 1,873,412 <DEPRECIATION> 450,256 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,970,231 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 0 <BONDS> 1,260,545 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 0 <OTHER-SE> 1,388,202 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 2,970,231 <SALES> 392,309 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 392,309 <CGS> 73,386 <TOTAL-COSTS> 258,318 <OTHER-EXPENSES> (346) <LOSS-PROVISION> 9,946 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 24,373 <INCOME-PRETAX> 33,058 <INCOME-TAX> 13,509 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 19,549 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 19,549 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0