What? Autoranging has absolutely no impact on whether you will damage a digital multimeter or not. If you select too low of a range it will simply display overload but not cause any damage on a meter worth it's salt.

Now, if you connected it to something above the specification of the meter or perhaps tried reading a voltage in ammeter mode, that's user error and completely your own fault and wouldn't have been prevented by autoranging.

Set the range to 0.1v and try measuring 500v. Then get back to me. Disclaimer: I'm not responsible for your burned out multimeter.

Wow. Analog ultimeters are hard rocks if you take some cautions when handling it. Starting from the highest range and going to a lower one if it's too big must be enough.

Mine one is a cheap 35 euros analog multimeter and it's working fine since the last 12 years.

Just be careful and pay special attention when handling electricity.