I am taking a Luton van to Italy and breaking my journey near Mannheim, Heidelberg, Karlsruhe and Stuttgart on the A4, A61, A6, A5, A8 area. A condition of my contents insurance is that I park the van in an area that is either locked or supervised overnight. I have googled tens of hotels in this area, and all those that have secure parking are saying that it’s not got the clearance height to accommodate the van, which I believe to be 3.4m. Does anyone know of a secure parking in any of these four cities that would accommodate a Luton van and be either supervised by a person or would keep the van behind a locked gate for an overnight stay? It needs to be in a city, or in a hotel or motel that is not more than about 4 miles from the motorway.
jonathanph:
I am taking a Luton van to Italy and breaking my journey near Mannheim, Heidelberg, Karlsruhe and Stuttgart on the A4, A61, A6, A5, A8 area. A condition of my contents insurance is that I park the van in an area that is either locked or supervised overnight. I have googled tens of hotels in this area, and all those that have secure parking are saying that it’s not got the clearance height to accommodate the van, which I believe to be 3.4m. Does anyone know of a secure parking in any of these four cities that would accommodate a Luton van and be either supervised by a person or would keep the van behind a locked gate for an overnight stay? It needs to be in a city, or in a hotel or motel that is not more than about 4 miles from the motorway.
Secure like your insurance company want is very thin on the ground in Germany.
The nearest thing to what you’re after, that I can think of. is the autohof at Esslingen. Its signed at the exit off the B10. It isn’t THAT secure, but does have barriers on the entry and exit. I think its a Shell petrol station as well, but I’m not sure.
It is just to the South of the B10 and looking on Google maps has to be near Diesel Strasse.
(I could drive there, but there’s no way I could give you any better instructions, sorry 
)
I’ve never had a security problem and I’ve been parked up for the night in places all over Germany. We do a round trip to Germany every week.
I tried a different search and came up with THIS, which looks close enough to what I was looking for. No idea if it’ll fit the bill for you though.
Last three weeks ago, I went to Germany & Austria - did stay some hotel and also slept in my car overnight - no problem, I feel more safe in Germany than Belgium or here!
Best place - Autohof (Germany Truckstop) everywhere in Germany which very close to Autobahn, there will be charge for parking fee but there will be good discount when you order thier food or drinks at restuarant also there has cctv or guard warden walking around. Some Autohof place next to Hotel.
also Etap continental hotel is good place to sleep - budget hotel with parking has no barrier height limit.
As Betz said, Etap hotels, same sort as Travelodge over here, usually off motorway on a business estate, lit car park, 24hr reception overseeing it, if not than the site gets closed midnight to 4/5am or so and security guy wanders around (or watches tv at the reception). That could please your insurer.
If you are willing to stay with your wagon try parking in the BASF
lorry parks either one , But the best one would be at the front as the factory
security comes round and they have CCTV plus you have a ARAL garage next
to the parking area , and the tram to get you into the town
sorry forgot to say at BASF In Ludwigshafen not that far from mannheim
brit pete:
If you are willing to stay with your wagon try parking in the BASF
lorry parks either one , But the best one would be at the front as the factory
security comes round and they have CCTV plus you have a ARAL garage next
to the parking area , and the tram to get you into the town
sorry forgot to say at BASF In Ludwigshafen not that far from mannheim
When Pete says ‘the front of the factory’, he means here, turn into Ammoniakstrasse.