How to pick a proper UV lens for my DSLR?

I bought my refurbished Nikon D3000 a couple months ago, and I'm looking into UV filters. I have a kit lens (18-55mm) and a lens I bought a few weeks ago (55-300mm), and I hadn't even considered UV filters until now. I finally have money again, haha, so I can afford to get one for my lenses.
Anyway, how do I select a proper filter? Do I even really need one? What company would you recommend? How much should I expect to pay?

Sorry for all the questions, but I need to get this right.

So I'm assuming you don't want your decision to buy filters challenged…

The 18-55 takes 52mm, the 55-300 takes 58mm. Get a good multicoated filter, I prefer Hoya but B+W also makes good filters.

I'd get them here: http://maxsaver.net/HOYA-52mm-HD-High-Definition-Digital-UV-Filter.aspx
http://maxsaver.net/HOYA-58mm-HD-High-Definition-Digital-UV-Filter.aspx

Ther's no sorry. Just look for the right diameters
There are many brands. They filter ultra violet rays and also protect your lenses

UV filters are a waste of money and do not offer any real protection unless you are shooting in blowing wind or salt water. Since your camera and lenses are not weather sealed you should not be shooting in those conditions anyway. Use lens hoods at all times and be careful.

Almost every professional photographer I know does not use UV filters. Personally, I think they are a waste of money.

There's some reason that the guys/gals above are kind of discouraging you on the UV filter.
I personally think it is a personal choice of the photographer. I choose not to use them in general, however there are few instances that my lens could have benefitted from having one.

In normal every day use you should be caring for your lenses like they are gold. Keep your lens cap on when not shooting, keep them cleaned with a good lens cloth or Lens Pen (LOVE lens pens.) Protect your camera-don't let it swing around on the camera strap; be aware of it whenever it may bump something. My choice is to use a hand strap instead of a neck strap because I have better control over the camera and it doesn't hurt my neck, weigh on my back. That's all personal preference! The things you do to protect your lens from the damage you are concerned about is also necessary to protect your camera. If you care for your camera like a baby you shouldn't have damage issues. If you don't you will probably do more than scratch a lens-in which case a UV filter won't help you either.

If you do choose to use a filter for protection remember a few things. First and foremost that is yet another piece of glass that the image has to travel through. It is going to have an effect on or degrade your image-no matter what filter you use. If you purchase cheap glass it is going to degrade your image more than good glass. It is going to degrade your image.

You are not shooting with top quality glass to begin with. I would want the best quality I could possibly get out of those lenses-I don't want to lose any quality. They aren't BAD lenses by any means-but if you shot with Nikon's top of the line glass and compared the images you would DEFINITELY see the difference in color and crispness.

GOOD filters can cost as much or more than the lens itself. You want to look for a glass, multi coated filter. Cheap is not good in general.here is some more info on choosing a filter. It has some tests to give you a little help in understanding what I typed: http://photo.net/equipment/filters/

AND lastly… Don't apologize for your questions! Much better to ask than to discover later that you wasted $ on something that is junk, wasn't what you needed, wanted or didn't do what you want it to!