diff --git a/selfdrive/car/car_helpers.py b/selfdrive/car/car_helpers.py
index c7737bcea5..c2b4237779 100644
--- a/selfdrive/car/car_helpers.py
+++ b/selfdrive/car/car_helpers.py
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ def can_fingerprint(can_recv: CanRecvCallable) -> tuple[str | None, dict[int, di
 
 
 # **** for use live only ****
-def fingerprint(can_recv: CanRecvCallable, can_send: CanSendCallable, set_obd_multiplexing: ObdCallback, num_pandas: int, cached_params_raw: bytes | None):
+def fingerprint(can_recv: CanRecvCallable, can_send: CanSendCallable, set_obd_multiplexing: ObdCallback, num_pandas: int, cached_params: CarParams | None):
   fixed_fingerprint = os.environ.get('FINGERPRINT', "")
   skip_fw_query = os.environ.get('SKIP_FW_QUERY', False)
   disable_fw_cache = os.environ.get('DISABLE_FW_CACHE', False)
@@ -89,12 +89,6 @@ def fingerprint(can_recv: CanRecvCallable, can_send: CanSendCallable, set_obd_mu
 
   start_time = time.monotonic()
   if not skip_fw_query:
-    cached_params = None
-    if cached_params_raw is not None:
-      with car.CarParams.from_bytes(cached_params_raw) as cached_params:
-        if cached_params.carName == "mock":
-          cached_params = None
-
     if cached_params is not None and len(cached_params.carFw) > 0 and \
        cached_params.carVin is not VIN_UNKNOWN and not disable_fw_cache:
       carlog.warning("Using cached CarParams")
@@ -159,7 +153,7 @@ def get_car_interface(CP):
 
 
 def get_car(can_recv: CanRecvCallable, can_send: CanSendCallable, set_obd_multiplexing: ObdCallback, experimental_long_allowed: bool,
-            num_pandas: int = 1, cached_params: bytes | None = None):
+            num_pandas: int = 1, cached_params: CarParams | None = None):
   candidate, fingerprints, vin, car_fw, source, exact_match = fingerprint(can_recv, can_send, set_obd_multiplexing, num_pandas, cached_params)
 
   if candidate is None:
diff --git a/selfdrive/car/card.py b/selfdrive/car/card.py
index 93d8d553e1..25ca105427 100755
--- a/selfdrive/car/card.py
+++ b/selfdrive/car/card.py
@@ -88,7 +88,14 @@ class Car:
 
       experimental_long_allowed = self.params.get_bool("ExperimentalLongitudinalEnabled")
       num_pandas = len(messaging.recv_one_retry(self.sm.sock['pandaStates']).pandaStates)
-      cached_params = self.params.get("CarParamsCache")
+
+      cached_params = None
+      cached_params_raw = self.params.get("CarParamsCache")
+      if cached_params_raw is not None:
+        with car.CarParams.from_bytes(cached_params_raw) as _cached_params:
+          # TODO: even more generic?
+          cached_params = CarParams(carName=_cached_params.carName, carFw=_cached_params.carFw, carVin=_cached_params.carVin)
+
       self.CI = get_car(*self.can_callbacks, obd_callback(self.params), experimental_long_allowed, num_pandas, cached_params)
       self.CP = self.CI.CP