I need to rent a car just short of 5 days in Omaha in August.
I don't qualify for the week coupons and I don't qualify for the weekend coupons because I need it on a Wed. night. If I set up the reservation to show I am not bringing it back for 5 days--- will they penalize me if I bring it in earlier?
The answer probably depends on the specific week coupons that you're looking at, but my guess would be that if you didn't keep the rent a car for the full five days the rental car coupon would be invalid.
What you would want to look at are the terms and conditions listed on the rental car coupon, specifically with regards to a minimum and maximum rental length. Generally, weekly car rental coupons list a minimum requirement of 5 days-- and the 5 day requirement is for the rental, not just the reservation.
This is why, when you are getting price quotes, often the value of a rental car coupon is not caluculated in your price quote. This is because the car rental company determines at the END of the rental (when you return the vehicle) whether or not you met all the terms and conditions of the coupon that you used.