In this paper, the experimental study and finite elements analysis were conducted on homogeneous and dissimilar metals single lap-shear bonded joints to investigate the factor that affect the joint failure load. It was found that factors which have the significant effects on the failure load of the joint was stiffness of the adherends. And from experimental results, it can be confirmed that the failure load increases linearly with overlap length increases. And the failure load of dissimilar metal joints is approximately 1KN(10 ~17%) larger than homogeneous metal joints. In order to confirm this phenomenon, the stress distribution and strain distribution of the specimens were analyzed through the finite element analysis. The difference between homogeneous metals joints and dissimilar metals joints is that stress and strain in adhesive are concentrated at the end of the overlap zone close to aluminium which has lower rigidity than aluminium in case of dissimilar metals joints. From high rigidity of steel, the stress concentration in bonds are decreased and it cause increase of the failure strength at dissimilar metal joints.