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We own a lockshop, get a spare key cut for every vehicle you own! In most cases, it's $2-$5 instead of hundreds. The VIN usually only works for cars less than 7 years old. There are exceptions. We get calls daily from people who think it's going to be $15 when they lose all their keys. These days, it's typically $150 minimum depending on the car to get a new key.
In some cases, all the locks in the car need to be replaced (maybe not replaced, but you wind up buying an entire set just to get a new ignition lock).
GM vehicles, some Fords, and Chryslers use what's called a "sidebar" in door & ignition locks (by no means is this an "all the time" statement) and they are very difficult to fit a key to (you probably won't find 10 locksmiths in 100 that can generate a key to a sidebar lock). If that's your vehicle, plus it's more than 7 years old, get ready to pay the dealership, locksmith, or mechanic to tear down the ignition column, pull the lock & put it all back together, easily a two hour job.
And the Escort is a different duck entirely, $200 is cheap to get out of that one if it happens again. If I were you I'd get a cool dozen cut when you lose them at that rate!
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