<PAGE>
=============================================================================
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
DATE OF REPORT (DATE OF EARLIEST EVENT REPORTED)AUGUST 5, 1998
------------------
UNITED RENTALS, INC.
(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C>
Delaware 001-14387 06-1522496
- - -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(State or Other Jurisdiction (Commission file Number) (IRS Employer
of Incorporation) Identification No.)
</TABLE>
Four Greenwich Office Park, Greenwich, Connecticut 06830
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code (203) 622-3131
--------------
================================================================================
<PAGE>
Item 5. Other
-----
The Registrant has become the parent holding company of Old United Rentals
(as defined below) pursuant to the reorganization of the legal structure of Old
United Rentals described below. As a result, the Registrant is a successor
issuer to Old United Rentals, and pursuant to Rule 12g-3(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), the common stock of
Registrant, par value $0.01 per share, is deemed to be registered under Section
12(b) of the Exchange Act instead of the common stock of Old United Rentals. As
used herein, "Old United Rentals" refers to the company which was incorporated
in August 1997 under the name United Rentals, Inc. and which changed its name to
United Rentals (North America), Inc. in connection with the reorganization
described below.
On August 5, 1998, a reorganization (the "Reorganization") was effected
pursuant to which (i) Old United Rentals became a wholly owned subsidiary of the
Registrant, a newly formed holding company, (ii) the name of Old United Rentals
was changed from United Rentals, Inc. to United Rentals (North America), Inc.,
(iii) the name of the Registrant became United Rentals, Inc., (iv) the
outstanding common stock of Old United Rentals was automatically converted, on a
share for share basis, into common stock of the Registrant and (v) the common
stock of the Registrant commenced trading on the New York Stock Exchange under
the symbol "URI" instead of the common stock of Old United Rentals. The purpose
of the reorganization was to facilitate certain financings. The business
operations of Old United Rentals will not change as a result of the
reorganization.
2
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized on this 7th day of August, 1998.
UNITED RENTALS, INC.
By: Michael J. Nolan
----------------------
Name: Michael J. Nolan
Title: Chief Financial Officer
3