Is it time to buy a new garage door opener? Perhaps you’re investing in your first one ever. Whatever the case, there are different types on the market that you’ll need to consider. When you do, the primary area of difference is going to be the drive mechanism, which works something like the transmission on a car or truck. There are several different options out there, including chain drives, belt drives, screw drives, and even jackshaft openers that get installed beside the door rather than on the ceiling.