is striving to become one of the best rated insurance companies in the U.S., and it hopes that Shaquille O’Neal’s continued presence in its commercials will help make the difference.

“Shaq” is one of the most iconic sports personalities of all time, and ever since he became brand ambassador for The General back in 2016, he has helped raise the profile of the company.

What makes him an interesting choice for brand spokesperson, is that unlike many others, O’Neal is actually a customer of The General, and he was also a customer thirty years ago, when he was an up-and-coming-baller at LSU.

Read on to find out more about O’Neal’s journey from insurance customer, to insurance commercial star, and discover how you can save hundreds of dollars on car insurance with

Jerry

Even celebrities like Shaquille O’Neal need car insurance.

Shaquille O’Neal was a customer of The General in college

Long before Shaquille O’Neal signed a contract to “Ride With The General” in the insurance company’s high profile ad campaign, he had first hand experience dealing with the company.

O’Neal played NCAA Division I men's college basketball for Louisiana State University, from 1989 to 1992. While he was undoubtedly a hot prospect, he was far from the mega star he is today.

He admits that money was tight, and like most kids starting out on their own, he had little experience dealing with things like insurance.

Fortunately for Shaq, The General provided him with the coverage he needed at an affordable rate. He is quoted on The General’s

website

as saying, “The truth is I was a customer of The General in my college days at LSU...they helped me out. I'm still a customer to this day.”

MORE: Why Do So Many Insurance Companies Sponsor Stadiums?

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The General is very popular with young drivers, and those with a less-than-perfect driving record, because unlike some other insurers, they willingly accept high-risk drivers as customers.

Still, if you have a chequered driving history, it can be hard to find an affordable rate. If you are struggling to find cheap car insurance, why not

compare quotes online

with Jerry?

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The General

Written By

Alex Healey · Expert Insurance Writer

"Alex Healey is an insurance writer specializing in car insurance and personal finance. Alex’s mission is to create informative, just-in-time content for car owners and buyers. Alex has written articles for Jerry on topics ranging from hybrid vehicle rankings to used car costs. Before joining Jerry, Alex worked as a digital content specialist and editor for brands including InsuranceHotline.com, Rates.ca, and Booking.com. When not writing for Jerry, Alex continues to build his freelance digital content portfolio in the insurance and automotive industries. "

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