CL Lucas, a retired Air Force major, filed suit in San Antonio district court after USAA refused to provide roadside assistance when his wife's Volvo XC90 broke down in Matamoros, Mexico, three miles from the U.S. border, in August 2024, according to KSAT. Lucas believed his policy covered towing up to 75 miles into Mexico. USAA's app attempted to dispatch a truck to Brownsville instead. The vehicle sat in Mexico for two months before being found partially stripped with engine and water damage. The lawsuit alleges deceptive trade practices and breach of contract and seeks over $1 million in damages.
Operator takeaway
Cross-border towing coverage is a gray area in most roadside assistance policies. If your company operates near the border and gets calls for vehicles stranded in Mexico, confirm the customer's coverage in writing before dispatching.