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As more car and truck makers switch to using aluminum in the bodies of their vehicles (with a few even switching to all-aluminum bodies), drivers should be aware of a few quirks or tips for keeping the vehicles in good shape. Aluminum doesn't act like other metals used in cars, and it is easy to make it look worse by accident. However, you can keep it looking great with care.

You Will Need a Truck Bed Liner

If you are purchasing a pickup truck that is all-aluminum, you will need a truck bed liner. While the aluminum used in trucks is strong, the bed can become scratched and dented -- and even end up with holes -- if you're throwing very heavy items into the bed. One car maker actually tested another's claims that the all-aluminum truck the second car maker was producing was super-tough. The first car maker dumped a bunch of heavy landscaping blocks into the beds of both its own steel pickup and the competitor's aluminum pickup, and the aluminum pickup ended up with dents and holes. Granted, this was a tough test that most pickup owners will never replicate, but it's best to have a truck bed liner to protect the surface.

Look for Technical Service Bulletins

Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) are notices from a car manufacturer that tell dealers certain repairs have to be done for free because a widespread problem was noticed among that manufacturer's car models. (They aren't exactly the same as recall notices, but they cover a similar concept.) Keep track of those because one day, one might apply to your vehicle. If there is a problem that the manufacturer has identified and that you can have repaired for free, you've just saved a bunch of money and gotten a problem resolved.

You Should Seek a Specially Trained Repair Shop

Working with aluminum is a lot different than working with steel, and your engine and auto body repair mechanics need to know exactly what they are doing. Car makers that are issuing aluminum cars and trucks have been training dealer service center mechanics to repair aluminum correctly, and other repair shops have begun following suit. Seek out mechanics and repair shops that are specially trained to repair aluminum.

Talk to your current repair shop to see if they have been trained to repair aluminum vehicles. If not, and you still want to purchase the vehicle, start looking around for a place that will know how to handle your car or truck. For more information, contact companies like Exoticar Paintworks Inc.