diff --git a/selfdrive/car/tests/routes.py b/selfdrive/car/tests/routes.py
index 92ee7fa923..265f052b16 100755
--- a/selfdrive/car/tests/routes.py
+++ b/selfdrive/car/tests/routes.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ from openpilot.selfdrive.car.nissan.values import CAR as NISSAN
 from openpilot.selfdrive.car.mazda.values import CAR as MAZDA
 from openpilot.selfdrive.car.subaru.values import CAR as SUBARU
 from openpilot.selfdrive.car.toyota.values import CAR as TOYOTA
+from openpilot.selfdrive.car.values import Platform
 from openpilot.selfdrive.car.volkswagen.values import CAR as VOLKSWAGEN
 from openpilot.selfdrive.car.tesla.values import CAR as TESLA
 from openpilot.selfdrive.car.body.values import CAR as COMMA
@@ -29,7 +30,7 @@ non_tested_cars = [
 
 class CarTestRoute(NamedTuple):
   route: str
-  car_model: str | None
+  car_model: Platform | None
   segment: int | None = None
 
 
diff --git a/selfdrive/car/tests/test_models.py b/selfdrive/car/tests/test_models.py
index b7d20e5a83..1ef8c5b676 100755
--- a/selfdrive/car/tests/test_models.py
+++ b/selfdrive/car/tests/test_models.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ from openpilot.selfdrive.car.fingerprints import all_known_cars
 from openpilot.selfdrive.car.car_helpers import FRAME_FINGERPRINT, interfaces
 from openpilot.selfdrive.car.honda.values import CAR as HONDA, HondaFlags
 from openpilot.selfdrive.car.tests.routes import non_tested_cars, routes, CarTestRoute
+from openpilot.selfdrive.car.values import PLATFORMS, Platform
 from openpilot.selfdrive.controls.controlsd import Controls
 from openpilot.selfdrive.test.helpers import read_segment_list
 from openpilot.system.hardware.hw import DEFAULT_DOWNLOAD_CACHE_ROOT
@@ -64,7 +65,7 @@ def get_test_cases() -> list[tuple[str, CarTestRoute | None]]:
 @pytest.mark.slow
 @pytest.mark.shared_download_cache
 class TestCarModelBase(unittest.TestCase):
-  car_model: str | None = None
+  platform: Platform | None = None
   test_route: CarTestRoute | None = None
   test_route_on_bucket: bool = True  # whether the route is on the preserved CI bucket
 
@@ -93,8 +94,8 @@ class TestCarModelBase(unittest.TestCase):
         car_fw = msg.carParams.carFw
         if msg.carParams.openpilotLongitudinalControl:
           experimental_long = True
-        if cls.car_model is None and not cls.ci:
-          cls.car_model = msg.carParams.carFingerprint
+        if cls.platform is None and not cls.ci:
+          cls.platform = PLATFORMS.get(msg.carParams.carFingerprint)
 
       # Log which can frame the panda safety mode left ELM327, for CAN validity checks
       elif msg.which() == 'pandaStates':
@@ -155,15 +156,11 @@ class TestCarModelBase(unittest.TestCase):
     if cls.__name__ == 'TestCarModel' or cls.__name__.endswith('Base'):
       raise unittest.SkipTest
 
-    if 'FILTER' in os.environ:
-      if not cls.car_model.startswith(tuple(os.environ.get('FILTER').split(','))):
-        raise unittest.SkipTest
-
     if cls.test_route is None:
-      if cls.car_model in non_tested_cars:
-        print(f"Skipping tests for {cls.car_model}: missing route")
+      if cls.platform in non_tested_cars:
+        print(f"Skipping tests for {cls.platform}: missing route")
         raise unittest.SkipTest
-      raise Exception(f"missing test route for {cls.car_model}")
+      raise Exception(f"missing test route for {cls.platform}")
 
     car_fw, can_msgs, experimental_long = cls.get_testing_data()
 
@@ -172,10 +169,10 @@ class TestCarModelBase(unittest.TestCase):
 
     cls.can_msgs = sorted(can_msgs, key=lambda msg: msg.logMonoTime)
 
-    cls.CarInterface, cls.CarController, cls.CarState = interfaces[cls.car_model]
-    cls.CP = cls.CarInterface.get_params(cls.car_model, cls.fingerprint, car_fw, experimental_long, docs=False)
+    cls.CarInterface, cls.CarController, cls.CarState = interfaces[cls.platform]
+    cls.CP = cls.CarInterface.get_params(cls.platform,  cls.fingerprint, car_fw, experimental_long, docs=False)
     assert cls.CP
-    assert cls.CP.carFingerprint == cls.car_model
+    assert cls.CP.carFingerprint == cls.platform
 
     os.environ["COMMA_CACHE"] = DEFAULT_DOWNLOAD_CACHE_ROOT
 
@@ -478,7 +475,7 @@ class TestCarModelBase(unittest.TestCase):
                     "This is fine to fail for WIP car ports, just let us know and we can upload your routes to the CI bucket.")
 
 
-@parameterized_class(('car_model', 'test_route'), get_test_cases())
+@parameterized_class(('platform', 'test_route'), get_test_cases())
 @pytest.mark.xdist_group_class_property('test_route')
 class TestCarModel(TestCarModelBase):
   pass
diff --git a/tools/car_porting/test_car_model.py b/tools/car_porting/test_car_model.py
index 86980b054b..1dfac7dcf3 100755
--- a/tools/car_porting/test_car_model.py
+++ b/tools/car_porting/test_car_model.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import unittest
 
 from openpilot.selfdrive.car.tests.routes import CarTestRoute
 from openpilot.selfdrive.car.tests.test_models import TestCarModel
+from openpilot.selfdrive.car.values import PLATFORMS
 from openpilot.tools.lib.route import SegmentName
 
 
@@ -31,7 +32,10 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
 
   route_or_segment_name = SegmentName(args.route_or_segment_name.strip(), allow_route_name=True)
   segment_num = route_or_segment_name.segment_num if route_or_segment_name.segment_num != -1 else None
-  test_route = CarTestRoute(route_or_segment_name.route_name.canonical_name, args.car, segment=segment_num)
+
+  platform = PLATFORMS.get(args.car)
+
+  test_route = CarTestRoute(route_or_segment_name.route_name.canonical_name, platform, segment=segment_num)
   test_suite = create_test_models_suite([test_route], ci=args.ci)
 
   unittest.TextTestRunner().run(test_suite)