The increasing trend to use aluminium alloys for vehicle components makes it necessary to summarize the state of the art related to the approval of their structural durability under operational conditions. In this paper the procedures for the experimental and the numerical service-strength evaluations of cast, forged and welded aluminium-alloy components are presented. We also present the results of investigations of the influence of corrosion as well as the methods for accelerated test approval; these are then validated and a practical approach recommended. (C) 2007 Journal of Mechanical Engineering. All rights reserved.