<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0206</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2016-01-26</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001067701</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>UNITED RENTALS INC /DE</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>URI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001664921</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PINTOFF CRAIG ADAM</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O UNITED RENTALS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>100 FIRST STAMFORD  PL STE 700</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>STAMFORD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06902</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Sr. V.P,, Gen. Counsel &amp; H.R.</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>21291</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The total reported is comprised of:  (i) 4,306 shares of common stock, (ii) an award of restricted stock units granted to the reporting person on March 7, 2013, of which 921 units are scheduled to vest on March 7, 2016, (iii) an award of restricted stock units granted on March 4, 2014, of which 663 units are scheduled to vest on each of March 4, 2016 and March 4, 2017, (iv) an award of restricted stock units granted on March 10, 2015, of which 805 units are scheduled to vest on March 10, 2016 and 804 units are scheduled to vest on each of March 10, 2017 and March 10, 2018, (v) an award of restricted stock units granted on December 8, 2015, of which 1,374 units are scheduled to vest on each of December 8, 2016, December 8, 2017 and December 8, 2018, and (vi) an award of restricted stock units granted on January 11, 2016, of which 2,735 units are scheduled to vest on January 11, 2017 and 2,734 units are scheduled to vest on each of January 11, 2018 and January 11, 2019.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Restricted stock units are settled with common shares on a one-for-one basis upon vesting and are subject to acceleration in certain circumstances.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/ s / Craig A. Pintoff</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-02-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
