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Bartonellae are facultative intracellular alpha-proteobacteria often transmitted by arthropods. <i>Ixodes ricinus</i> is the most important vector for arthropod-borne pathogens in Europe. However, its vector competence for <i>Bartonella</i> spp. is still unclear. This study aimed to experimentally compare its vector competence for three <i>Bartonella</i> species: <i>B. henselae</i>, <i>B. grahamii</i>, and <i>B. schoenbuchensis</i>. A total of 1333 ticks (1021 nymphs and 312 adults) were separated into four groups, one for each pathogen and a negative control group. Ticks were fed artificially with bovine blood spiked with the respective <i>Bartonella</i> species. DNA was extracted from selected ticks to verify <i>Bartonella</i>-infection by PCR. DNA of <i>Bartonella</i> spp. was detected in 34% of nymphs and females after feeding. The best engorgement results were obtained by ticks fed with <i>B. henselae</i>-spiked blood (65.3%) and <i>B. schoenbuchensis</i> (61.6%). Significantly more nymphs fed on infected blood (37.3%) molted into adults compared to the control group (11.4%). <i>Bartonella</i> DNA was found in 22% of eggs laid by previously infected females and in 8.6% of adults molted from infected nymphs. The transovarial and transstadial transmission of bartonellae suggest that <i>I. ricinus</i> could be a potential vector for three bacteria.