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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 V2I/hsKNDfkdROkiFP7NUcnzBFKytwvTp4nnhU6BOrYHG326GZkW+7/PsNikoMg/
 p/sxfGywT4znsHeIsZlldg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000893046-03-000080.txt : 20030717
<SEC-HEADER>0000893046-03-000080.hdr.sgml : 20030717
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030717154955
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000893046-03-000080
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030716
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030717

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RENT WAY INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000893046
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-EQUIPMENT RENTAL & LEASING, NEC [7359]
		IRS NUMBER:				251407782
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			PA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE RENTWAY PLACE
		CITY:			ERIE
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			16505
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8144555378

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE RENTWAY PLACE
		CITY:			ERIE
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			16505

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DEMOSS RONALD D
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001209855

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-22026
		FILM NUMBER:		03791324

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE RENTWAY PLACE
		CITY:			ERIE
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			16505
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8144615225

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE RENTWAY PLACE
		CITY:			ERIE
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			16505
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>f4071603_ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!-- - EDGAR Ease Plus 1.0                                   04/22/03  TZ    -->
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
   <periodOfReport>2003-07-16</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000893046</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>RENT WAY INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RWY</issuerTradingSymbol>
   </issuer>
   <reportingOwner>
      <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001209855</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DEMOSS RONALD D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
         <isDirector>0</isDirector>
         <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
         <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
         <isOther>0</isOther>
         <officerTitle>VP General Counsel</officerTitle>
       </reportingOwnerRelationship>
   </reportingOwner>
   <derivativeSecurity>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Stock Option</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
         <value>5.50</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2003-07-16</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <deemedExecutionDate>
         <value>2003-07-16</value>
      </deemedExecutionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>20000</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionValue>
           <value>0</value>
         </transactionValue>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>A</value>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
         <value>2006-07-16</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
         <value>2009-07-16</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
         <underlyingSecurityTitle>
           <value>Common Stock</value>
         </underlyingSecurityTitle>
         <underlyingSecurityShares>
           <value>20000</value>
         </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>20000</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
           <value>D</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeSecurity>
   <footnotes>
<footnote id="F1"> 6,667 vests 7/16/2006; 6,667 vests 7/16/2007; 6,666 vests 7/16/2008</footnote>
   </footnotes>
   <ownerSignature>
      <signatureName>/s/ Ronald D. DeMoss</signatureName>
      <signatureDate>2003-07-16</signatureDate>
   </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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