diff --git a/release/files_common b/release/files_common
index 1158d2c552..00a6abe6e6 100644
--- a/release/files_common
+++ b/release/files_common
@@ -87,6 +87,7 @@ selfdrive/car/docs_definitions.py
 selfdrive/car/car_helpers.py
 selfdrive/car/fingerprints.py
 selfdrive/car/interfaces.py
+selfdrive/car/values.py
 selfdrive/car/vin.py
 selfdrive/car/disable_ecu.py
 selfdrive/car/fw_versions.py
diff --git a/selfdrive/car/car_helpers.py b/selfdrive/car/car_helpers.py
index fe4c0e885c..339be1912c 100644
--- a/selfdrive/car/car_helpers.py
+++ b/selfdrive/car/car_helpers.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ from collections.abc import Callable
 from cereal import car
 from openpilot.common.params import Params
 from openpilot.common.basedir import BASEDIR
+from openpilot.selfdrive.car.values import PLATFORMS
 from openpilot.system.version import is_comma_remote, is_tested_branch
 from openpilot.selfdrive.car.interfaces import get_interface_attr
 from openpilot.selfdrive.car.fingerprints import eliminate_incompatible_cars, all_legacy_fingerprint_cars
@@ -189,7 +190,10 @@ def fingerprint(logcan, sendcan, num_pandas):
   cloudlog.event("fingerprinted", car_fingerprint=car_fingerprint, source=source, fuzzy=not exact_match, cached=cached,
                  fw_count=len(car_fw), ecu_responses=list(ecu_rx_addrs), vin_rx_addr=vin_rx_addr, vin_rx_bus=vin_rx_bus,
                  fingerprints=repr(finger), fw_query_time=fw_query_time, error=True)
-  return car_fingerprint, finger, vin, car_fw, source, exact_match
+
+  car_platform = PLATFORMS.get(car_fingerprint, car_fingerprint)
+
+  return car_platform, finger, vin, car_fw, source, exact_match
 
 
 def get_car(logcan, sendcan, experimental_long_allowed, num_pandas=1):
diff --git a/selfdrive/car/interfaces.py b/selfdrive/car/interfaces.py
index 05610a6dd6..4516ff3a9a 100644
--- a/selfdrive/car/interfaces.py
+++ b/selfdrive/car/interfaces.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ from openpilot.common.simple_kalman import KF1D, get_kalman_gain
 from openpilot.common.numpy_fast import clip
 from openpilot.common.realtime import DT_CTRL
 from openpilot.selfdrive.car import PlatformConfig, apply_hysteresis, gen_empty_fingerprint, scale_rot_inertia, scale_tire_stiffness, STD_CARGO_KG
+from openpilot.selfdrive.car.values import Platform
 from openpilot.selfdrive.controls.lib.drive_helpers import V_CRUISE_MAX, get_friction
 from openpilot.selfdrive.controls.lib.events import Events
 from openpilot.selfdrive.controls.lib.vehicle_model import VehicleModel
@@ -101,14 +102,14 @@ class CarInterfaceBase(ABC):
     return ACCEL_MIN, ACCEL_MAX
 
   @classmethod
-  def get_non_essential_params(cls, candidate: str):
+  def get_non_essential_params(cls, candidate: Platform):
     """
     Parameters essential to controlling the car may be incomplete or wrong without FW versions or fingerprints.
     """
     return cls.get_params(candidate, gen_empty_fingerprint(), list(), False, False)
 
   @classmethod
-  def get_params(cls, candidate: str, fingerprint: dict[int, dict[int, int]], car_fw: list[car.CarParams.CarFw], experimental_long: bool, docs: bool):
+  def get_params(cls, candidate: Platform, fingerprint: dict[int, dict[int, int]], car_fw: list[car.CarParams.CarFw], experimental_long: bool, docs: bool):
     ret = CarInterfaceBase.get_std_params(candidate)
 
     if hasattr(candidate, "config"):
@@ -132,7 +133,7 @@ class CarInterfaceBase(ABC):
 
   @staticmethod
   @abstractmethod
-  def _get_params(ret: car.CarParams, candidate: str, fingerprint: dict[int, dict[int, int]],
+  def _get_params(ret: car.CarParams, candidate: Platform, fingerprint: dict[int, dict[int, int]],
                   car_fw: list[car.CarParams.CarFw], experimental_long: bool, docs: bool):
     raise NotImplementedError
 
diff --git a/selfdrive/car/subaru/interface.py b/selfdrive/car/subaru/interface.py
index edf07ac2ef..1358adb69c 100644
--- a/selfdrive/car/subaru/interface.py
+++ b/selfdrive/car/subaru/interface.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 from cereal import car
 from panda import Panda
 from openpilot.selfdrive.car import get_safety_config
+from openpilot.selfdrive.car.values import Platform
 from openpilot.selfdrive.car.disable_ecu import disable_ecu
 from openpilot.selfdrive.car.interfaces import CarInterfaceBase
 from openpilot.selfdrive.car.subaru.values import CAR, GLOBAL_ES_ADDR, LKAS_ANGLE, GLOBAL_GEN2, PREGLOBAL_CARS, HYBRID_CARS, SubaruFlags
@@ -9,7 +10,7 @@ from openpilot.selfdrive.car.subaru.values import CAR, GLOBAL_ES_ADDR, LKAS_ANGL
 class CarInterface(CarInterfaceBase):
 
   @staticmethod
-  def _get_params(ret, candidate, fingerprint, car_fw, experimental_long, docs):
+  def _get_params(ret, candidate: Platform, fingerprint, car_fw, experimental_long, docs):
     ret.carName = "subaru"
     ret.radarUnavailable = True
     # for HYBRID CARS to be upstreamed, we need:
diff --git a/selfdrive/car/values.py b/selfdrive/car/values.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..7a824d25c3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/selfdrive/car/values.py
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+from typing import List, cast, Dict
+from openpilot.selfdrive.car.body.values import CAR as BODY
+from openpilot.selfdrive.car.chrysler.values import CAR as CHRYSLER
+from openpilot.selfdrive.car.ford.values import CAR as FORD
+from openpilot.selfdrive.car.gm.values import CAR as GM
+from openpilot.selfdrive.car.honda.values import CAR as HONDA
+from openpilot.selfdrive.car.hyundai.values import CAR as HYUNDAI
+from openpilot.selfdrive.car.mazda.values import CAR as MAZDA
+from openpilot.selfdrive.car.nissan.values import CAR as NISSAN
+from openpilot.selfdrive.car.subaru.values import CAR as SUBARU
+from openpilot.selfdrive.car.tesla.values import CAR as TESLA
+from openpilot.selfdrive.car.toyota.values import CAR as TOYOTA
+from openpilot.selfdrive.car.volkswagen.values import CAR as VOLKSWAGEN
+
+Platform = BODY | CHRYSLER | FORD | GM | HONDA | HYUNDAI | MAZDA | NISSAN | SUBARU | TESLA | TOYOTA | VOLKSWAGEN
+BRANDS = [BODY, CHRYSLER, FORD, GM, HONDA, HYUNDAI, MAZDA, NISSAN, SUBARU, TESLA, TOYOTA, VOLKSWAGEN]
+
+PLATFORMS: Dict[str, Platform] = {str(platform): platform for brand in BRANDS for platform in cast(List[Platform], brand)}