diff --git a/backend/src/core/middleware/require-tier.test.ts b/backend/src/core/middleware/require-tier.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..13fc80f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/src/core/middleware/require-tier.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,191 @@
+import { FastifyRequest, FastifyReply } from 'fastify';
+import { requireTier } from './require-tier';
+
+// Mock logger to suppress output during tests
+jest.mock('../logging/logger', () => ({
+  logger: {
+    error: jest.fn(),
+    warn: jest.fn(),
+    debug: jest.fn(),
+    info: jest.fn(),
+  },
+}));
+
+const createRequest = (subscriptionTier?: string): Partial<FastifyRequest> => {
+  if (subscriptionTier === undefined) {
+    return { userContext: undefined };
+  }
+  return {
+    userContext: {
+      userId: 'auth0|user123456789',
+      email: 'user@example.com',
+      emailVerified: true,
+      onboardingCompleted: true,
+      isAdmin: false,
+      subscriptionTier: subscriptionTier as any,
+    },
+  };
+};
+
+const createReply = (): Partial<FastifyReply> & { statusCode?: number; payload?: unknown } => {
+  const reply: any = {
+    sent: false,
+    code: jest.fn(function (this: any, status: number) {
+      this.statusCode = status;
+      return this;
+    }),
+    send: jest.fn(function (this: any, payload: unknown) {
+      this.payload = payload;
+      this.sent = true;
+      return this;
+    }),
+  };
+  return reply;
+};
+
+describe('requireTier middleware', () => {
+  afterEach(() => {
+    jest.clearAllMocks();
+  });
+
+  describe('pro user passes fuelLog.receiptScan check', () => {
+    it('allows pro user through without sending a response', async () => {
+      const handler = requireTier('fuelLog.receiptScan');
+      const request = createRequest('pro');
+      const reply = createReply();
+
+      await handler(request as FastifyRequest, reply as FastifyReply);
+
+      expect(reply.code).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+      expect(reply.send).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('enterprise user passes all checks (tier inheritance)', () => {
+    it('allows enterprise user access to pro-gated features', async () => {
+      const handler = requireTier('fuelLog.receiptScan');
+      const request = createRequest('enterprise');
+      const reply = createReply();
+
+      await handler(request as FastifyRequest, reply as FastifyReply);
+
+      expect(reply.code).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+      expect(reply.send).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    });
+
+    it('allows enterprise user access to document.scanMaintenanceSchedule', async () => {
+      const handler = requireTier('document.scanMaintenanceSchedule');
+      const request = createRequest('enterprise');
+      const reply = createReply();
+
+      await handler(request as FastifyRequest, reply as FastifyReply);
+
+      expect(reply.code).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+      expect(reply.send).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    });
+
+    it('allows enterprise user access to vehicle.vinDecode', async () => {
+      const handler = requireTier('vehicle.vinDecode');
+      const request = createRequest('enterprise');
+      const reply = createReply();
+
+      await handler(request as FastifyRequest, reply as FastifyReply);
+
+      expect(reply.code).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+      expect(reply.send).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('free user blocked with 403 and correct response body', () => {
+    it('blocks free user from fuelLog.receiptScan', async () => {
+      const handler = requireTier('fuelLog.receiptScan');
+      const request = createRequest('free');
+      const reply = createReply();
+
+      await handler(request as FastifyRequest, reply as FastifyReply);
+
+      expect(reply.code).toHaveBeenCalledWith(403);
+      expect(reply.send).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+        expect.objectContaining({
+          error: 'TIER_REQUIRED',
+          requiredTier: 'pro',
+          currentTier: 'free',
+          featureName: 'Receipt Scan',
+          upgradePrompt: expect.any(String),
+        }),
+      );
+    });
+
+    it('blocks free user from document.scanMaintenanceSchedule', async () => {
+      const handler = requireTier('document.scanMaintenanceSchedule');
+      const request = createRequest('free');
+      const reply = createReply();
+
+      await handler(request as FastifyRequest, reply as FastifyReply);
+
+      expect(reply.code).toHaveBeenCalledWith(403);
+      expect(reply.send).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+        expect.objectContaining({
+          error: 'TIER_REQUIRED',
+          requiredTier: 'pro',
+          currentTier: 'free',
+          featureName: 'Scan for Maintenance Schedule',
+          upgradePrompt: expect.any(String),
+        }),
+      );
+    });
+
+    it('response body includes all required fields', async () => {
+      const handler = requireTier('fuelLog.receiptScan');
+      const request = createRequest('free');
+      const reply = createReply();
+
+      await handler(request as FastifyRequest, reply as FastifyReply);
+
+      const body = (reply.send as jest.Mock).mock.calls[0][0];
+      expect(body).toHaveProperty('requiredTier', 'pro');
+      expect(body).toHaveProperty('currentTier', 'free');
+      expect(body).toHaveProperty('featureName', 'Receipt Scan');
+      expect(body).toHaveProperty('upgradePrompt');
+      expect(typeof body.upgradePrompt).toBe('string');
+      expect(body.upgradePrompt.length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('unknown feature key returns 500', () => {
+    it('returns 500 INTERNAL_ERROR for unregistered feature', async () => {
+      const handler = requireTier('unknown.nonexistent.feature');
+      const request = createRequest('pro');
+      const reply = createReply();
+
+      await handler(request as FastifyRequest, reply as FastifyReply);
+
+      expect(reply.code).toHaveBeenCalledWith(500);
+      expect(reply.send).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+        expect.objectContaining({
+          error: 'INTERNAL_ERROR',
+          message: 'Unknown feature configuration',
+        }),
+      );
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('missing user.tier on request returns 403', () => {
+    it('defaults to free tier when userContext is undefined', async () => {
+      const handler = requireTier('fuelLog.receiptScan');
+      const request = createRequest(); // no tier = undefined userContext
+      const reply = createReply();
+
+      await handler(request as FastifyRequest, reply as FastifyReply);
+
+      expect(reply.code).toHaveBeenCalledWith(403);
+      expect(reply.send).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+        expect.objectContaining({
+          error: 'TIER_REQUIRED',
+          currentTier: 'free',
+          requiredTier: 'pro',
+        }),
+      );
+    });
+  });
+});
diff --git a/backend/src/core/middleware/require-tier.ts b/backend/src/core/middleware/require-tier.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9b21931
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/src/core/middleware/require-tier.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+/**
+ * @ai-summary Standalone tier guard middleware for route-level feature gating
+ * @ai-context Returns a Fastify preHandler that checks user subscription tier against feature requirements.
+ *   Must be composed AFTER requireAuth in preHandler arrays.
+ */
+
+import { FastifyRequest, FastifyReply } from 'fastify';
+import { canAccessFeature, getFeatureConfig } from '../config/feature-tiers';
+import { logger } from '../logging/logger';
+
+/**
+ * Creates a preHandler middleware that enforces subscription tier requirements.
+ *
+ * Reads the user's tier from request.userContext.subscriptionTier (set by auth middleware).
+ * Must be placed AFTER requireAuth in the preHandler chain.
+ *
+ * Usage:
+ *   fastify.post('/premium-route', {
+ *     preHandler: [requireAuth, requireTier('fuelLog.receiptScan')],
+ *     handler: controller.method
+ *   });
+ *
+ * @param featureKey - Key from FEATURE_TIERS registry (e.g. 'fuelLog.receiptScan')
+ * @returns Fastify preHandler function
+ */
+export function requireTier(featureKey: string) {
+  return async (request: FastifyRequest, reply: FastifyReply): Promise<void> => {
+    // Validate feature key exists in registry
+    const featureConfig = getFeatureConfig(featureKey);
+    if (!featureConfig) {
+      logger.error('requireTier: unknown feature key', { featureKey });
+      return reply.code(500).send({
+        error: 'INTERNAL_ERROR',
+        message: 'Unknown feature configuration',
+      });
+    }
+
+    // Get user tier from userContext (populated by auth middleware)
+    const currentTier = request.userContext?.subscriptionTier || 'free';
+
+    if (!canAccessFeature(currentTier, featureKey)) {
+      logger.warn('requireTier: access denied', {
+        userId: request.userContext?.userId?.substring(0, 8) + '...',
+        currentTier,
+        requiredTier: featureConfig.minTier,
+        featureKey,
+      });
+
+      return reply.code(403).send({
+        error: 'TIER_REQUIRED',
+        requiredTier: featureConfig.minTier,
+        currentTier,
+        featureName: featureConfig.name,
+        upgradePrompt: featureConfig.upgradePrompt,
+      });
+    }
+
+    logger.debug('requireTier: access granted', {
+      userId: request.userContext?.userId?.substring(0, 8) + '...',
+      currentTier,
+      featureKey,
+    });
+  };
+}