-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 V8GhgEUQ7Lxuvu2FVuEI93SnOX+dKZkfyxg7X935F2k9N1exZisw9XweestatOfQ
 bISEBPWKuHpsH8b2uKxY2A==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000893046-03-000135.txt : 20031203
<SEC-HEADER>0000893046-03-000135.hdr.sgml : 20031203
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031203090628
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000893046-03-000135
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031202
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031203

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:			RYAN GERALD A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001209852

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-22026
		FILM NUMBER:		031033900

	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>f4120203_ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!-- - EDGAR Ease Plus 1.0                                   07/25/03  TT    -->
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
   <periodOfReport>2003-12-02</periodOfReport>
   <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000893046</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>RENT WAY INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RWY</issuerTradingSymbol>
   </issuer>
   <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001209852</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RYAN GERALD A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE RENTWAY PLACE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ERIE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>16505</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
         <isDirector>1</isDirector>
         <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
         <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
         <isOther>0</isOther>
      </reportingOwnerRelationship>
   </reportingOwner>
 <nonDerivativeTable>
   <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2003-12-02</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>25000</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
           <value>7.95</value>
         </transactionPricePerShare>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>D</value>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>156748</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <value>D</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeTransaction>
   <nonDerivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>587.085</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <value>I</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
         <natureOfOwnership>
            <value>By 401(K)</value>
         </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeHolding>
   <nonDerivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>50000</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <value>I</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
         <natureOfOwnership>
            <value>By Spouse</value>
         </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeHolding>
 </nonDerivativeTable>
   <footnotes>
      <footnote id="F1"> As of December 3, 2003</footnote>
   </footnotes>
   <ownerSignature>
      <signatureName>/s/ Gerald A. Ryan</signatureName>
      <signatureDate>2003-12-03</signatureDate>
   </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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