A process for pretreating surfaces made from steel, galvanised steel and/or aluminum and/or alloys thereof, wherein, in a first process stage, phosphating is performed using a low-nickel zinc phosphating solution; in a second process stage, the phosphated surfaces are post-rinsed using an aqueous solution which contains 0.001 to 10 g/l of lithium ions; copper ions and/or silver ions; and, in a third process stage, a low-lead cathodically depositable electrocoating lacquer is applied which contains no more than 0.05 wt. % of lead, relative to the dry solids content of the lacquer.