Talking lizards, stern traffic cops and sales pitches about savings on car insurance are all over the television and in your mailbox promising you a better rate. But is it? And how do you know what to look for in car insurance?

To make sure you have the right coverage to keep you safe, let's decode some terms you need to understand about automobile insurance.

Limits of liabilityIn Pennsylvania the minimum required limits are $15,000/$30,000/$5000 which means if you hit a pedestrian or occupied vehicle you only have for bodily injury $15,000 per person in the accident.If two or more people are injured, the most your insurer is obligated to pay for bodily injury to all persons is $30,000. That is not enough.The cost for a visit to the emergency room and tests to rule out injuries is about $8,000. You can see how these limits really don't protect you and your assets very well.Damage to property, including cars, limit is $5,000 per accident.The cost difference per year on my own personal auto liability insurance between minimum limits and $100,000/$300,000/$100,000 is only $58 per year or less than $5 per month. If you have assets to protect, then you should consider having limits that will do just that.

Limited tort or full tort If you select limited tort, you will not be able to sue for pain and suffering unless you sustain a serious or permanent injury, which has been defined by the courts as a "serious impairment of a bodily function." Limited tort coverage savings are small and put you at risk.

Insurance coverageUninsured and underinsured motorist coverages are optional, and often are excluded in coverage to reduce the premium. I strongly recommend you have this coverage. I always ask my clients, why would you buy a lower limit of insurance for yourself than you would buy to protect someone else?This coverage is a bargain considering uninsured vehicles on the road are estimated to be as high as 30 percent statewide. If you are involved in an accident with an uninsured driver, you have almost no chance of collecting your damages.Both you and your passengers are covered for medical expenses, lost wages and other injury-related losses.First party benefits covers your injuries in an accident regardless of who is at fault. The state minimum is $5,000 which is adequate only if you have health insurance. If you don't, you may want to consider raising this amount.

It's about the serviceHaving the right coverage is important, but perhaps even more important is having an agent who puts your needs and interests first, not only when you are buying insurance, but when you have a claim.NexTier Insurance Services will do just that. Call professionals at 800-727-6077 for a free, no-obligation, insurance review and quote.